Just a few minutes ago, I checked Google’s advanced search for “whatleydude+N86″ and discovered 2690 results. A lot of people are echoing Whatleydude’s two thumbs-up for the venerable N86. I’m one of them.

Thanks for the kind words re: My blog. I don’t update it often but when I do it tends to be something important to me…
I too am disappointed with Vodafone’s (now) reluctance to range the N86 amongst their handsets for the summer, I was really hoping to upgrade to that myself.

However, a friend of mine has done some digging and found that a company called Mobile Phones Direct has started shipping the ’86 on VF. The link is below.

http://bit.ly/33vmj

Please know that I’ve never bought anything from Mobile Phones Direct and am not sure if they’re reputable. I’d say, do your research and shop around some more. You might find what you’re looking for.

Thanks for stopping by,

James.

My VF contract comes up in August and I’ve started getting the calls to persuade me to stay with them. This started me looking closer at the N97 at which point I found the N86 and was sold.

When I saw the N86 and N97 had gone on sale on the Nokia site I called VF and asked to extend my contract with the N86. The conversation went something like… I’m looking on our system and we don’t offer that phone. Are you sure, it went live on Nokia this week with the N97. We have the N97 for £50 on your current £35/month contract. No it’s the N86 or nothing, can you see if it’s due soon. I’ll check our three month forward view. No I’m afraid there’s nothing about the N86. Often there’s an exclusivity deal on new phones. I don’t know when or if we will get it.

You’ve probably seen the press release up now that Carphone Warehouse have exclusivity on the N86 from 19 June – Mid July. Then it goes on sale with only four networks… O2, Orange, T and 3. Not VF. God dam.

I was well annoyed and went down to Carphone Warehouse today and asked the saleman there what networks I could get the N86 on. Sorry sir we don’t have the N86. I think you do, check your system. Oh, it came in this morning. We offer all networks except VF sir. Grhhhh. What is the cheapest tariff to get the phone free? £45/month and you get 500mb of web surfing in there. £80 on my current £35/month tariff rate. They advised O2 as having the closest to VF coverage but for £35 I get less mins and texts so I said no thanks I’ll wait.

I guess I’ll have to stick with my battered N95 8Gb with TomTom installed.

Anyway I have a VF customer service update. Spoke to them yesterday when I saw the Nokia site was selling the N86 and N97. They said they didn’t have the N86 available but could offer the N97 for £50 on my £35/month tarrif. I said I’d moved on from the N97 the N86 was the only phone I was interested in now. I asked if they knew when the N86 might become availiable on VF? He checked there three month forward plan and said there is nothing on our system. We might not get it for another three months if at all. He suggested there might be an exclusivity offer on it with another network.

You’ve probably seen the press releases saying the N86 went on sale with the N97 on 19 June. Carphone Warehouse have an exclusive on the N86 til mid July and then everyone O2, T, 3 and Orange get it but no mention of VF… god dam! What is VF thinking, have they fallen out with Nokia or something?

I was well annoyed so I went down to Carphone Warehouse at lunch today and told the sales guy that they had the N86 now, what network could I get it on. He look bermused. I don’t think we do he replied. I said check your system, he looked embarrassed and said. Ur yes, they just came in about an hour ago.

I asked if they did VF contracts.. No. I asked what was the best network for coverage they did, he said O2 are as good as VF. I asked what the cheapest contract to get the N86 free.. £45/month ouch! £80 with my current contract value of £35/month but with O2 I’d get less mins and less texts than I get with VF. I said no thanks, I’ll wait.

Have to stick with my battered N95 8Gb with TomTom installed til then.

@Dan C I’ve just seen your post. You’ll get there eventually!

@James Pearce At what point was the CS agent ‘off the record’ ? She said it’s a maybe, I said it’s a maybe. You’re just a bit moaner

@Mark Thanks for info. I’ll just tweet it now