When I was visiting Nokia Dallas recently to get some time with the Nokia E75, I also learned that, in addition to the 1-year manufacturer’s warranty that comes standard with all new phones, Nokia Care also offers an optional extended warranty in a handful of countries – specifically, Australia, Venezuela, China, and the United States! This warranty basically…well…extends the manufacturer’s warranty for an additional 12 months, for things such as keys falling off, internal radios failing, and other manufacturing defects.
The setup is different in each country, but here’s the run-down:
- Launched in Australia at Nokia Care Points and National Retailers as a stand alone offering and can be purchased at anytime during the original warranty period.
- Launched in Venezuela through Operators bundled with the device at time of purchase only.
- Launched in USA through www.NokiaUSA.com bundled with the device at time of purchase only.
- Launched in China through Nokia Care Points and Nokia Branded Retail as a stand alone offering and can be purchased at anytime during the original warranty period.
The price varies through the different countries, and is a one-time fee. For instance, in the U.S., it’s priced at US$69.99, for handsets like the Nokia E75 or the E71. It’s a small gesture, but since most Nokia’s, specifically in the U.S., aren’t sold through a carrier, having the option of an extended warranty is certainly comforting. Now, if only they could figure out some sort of insurance, to protect against accidental damages, we’d be all set.
I have to say, I’m impressed to see that it’s available at all, as it certainly shows that Nokia USA (and the other countries) are trying to make owning a Nokia a pain-free process. What do you think, aside from the typical rhetoric that extended warranties are for shmucks (they are until you’ve needed and used one)?
