Nokia 5800 XpressMusic sees UK delay

Touchscreen Tube will not launch until 2009

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7 October 2008 15:16 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will not launch in the UK before Christmas, no doubt disappointing those hoping for the Finnish company's iPhone rival under their tree this Yule.

It seems Nokia's first mass-market touchscreen phone, dubbed the Tube, will miss its planned November launch, and the crucial Christmas sales period.

Although only promised to be "available worldwide beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008" in the original press info, reporters, including those from Pocket-lint, were informed at the UK "Remix" press launch that the phone would go on sale in November.

This will not be the case, as a Nokia spokesperson has confirmed to Pocket-lint today:

"The 5800 XpressMusic will be available in Q4 in some markets including Russia, Spain, India as well as parts of Asia Pacific and the Middle East. In other key markets, like the UK, which require greater operator variation, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will be available in Q1 2009."

Some industry commentators have speculated that the delay may be related to mobile phone operator's unwillingness to offer the related unlimited "Comes With Music" service.