In the latest Best Buy Mobile Buyer's Guide (11/23/08 - 12/27/08) I found a surprise. As most of us know, Best Buy Mobile sells unlocked Nokia handsets such as the N96 ($599.99) and 8600 Luna. But now Best Buy Mobile also sells Nokia Maps and N-Gage games both for $15.99.Nokia Maps includes:
- One year voice guided turn by turn navigation
- Completed Nokia Maps: North America
- Choice of multimedia city guide
- 2GB memory card
Nokia Games includes:
- World Series of Poker
- Creatures of the Deep
- Sims 2 Pets
- 2GB memory card
- 14 free trial games from N-gage
The Nokia Games package includes some of the most popular games with World Series of Poker hitting the top 5 games on n-gage for the last couple weeks. They've included a diverse set of games with one being card based, a strategy and more female oriented, and finally a slower paced male oriented. It doesn't really target any particular demographic. This may have been a decision to appeal to a much broader audience but considering each of these games retails for around $5.99 online, you aren't getting a significant discount purchasing the package and getting some games you don't really want. It does include a 2GB memory card but most Nokia handsets already include one with the phone so it isn't a big incentive.
The much better priced package is Nokia Maps by far. To see how significant the Nokia Maps package is, just take a look at Nokia's pricing for Nokia Maps navigation:
3.5 What does the navigation cost?
| Navigation license | 1 week | 1 month | 1 year | 3 years |
| Category A | 6,49 € | 7,99 € | 59,99 € | 69,99 € |
| Category B | 7,49 € | 8,99 € | 69,99 € | 79,99 € |
| Category C | 8,99 € | 9,99 € | 89,99 € | 99,99 € |
Countries and Regions in Category A Navigation Upgrade: Iberia, France plus Benelux, DACH, Italy plus, Alp Region, Nordic Countries, Benelux Plus, British Isles, Turkey, Eastern Europe, Canada, Hong Kong & Macau, Adriatic Plus
Countries and Regions in Category B Navigation Upgrade: Russia, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, South-East Asia, Australia, South Africa, India
Countries and Regions in Category C Navigation Upgrades: Middle East, Western Europe, North America, Egypt
Source: Nokia, November 26, 2008
Considering a 3-year navigation upgrade for USA maps (you have to buy all of North America) costs about $149, the new Nokia Maps navigation package for $15.99 with 1 year navigation is much better priced.I personally wasn't able to find Nokia Maps package at the Best Buy by my office so I recommend calling ahead to ensure they have it in stock.
Oddly, Best Buy Mobile is selling the Nokia Maps package for $99:
Source: Best Buy Mobile, November 26, 2008
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