Ultra Hot: Nokia N96 To Be Released Officially In Egypt!
Kirollos Fares | October 23, 2008
One week ago, as I was trying to wake up from my sleeping comma on the bus of my university, I saw something that was very strange and stupid, I saw a HUGE street ad of the N96 with the subtitle The Web, Now Made By Hand, At first I thought it was some kind of an error, maybe the Nokia head office in Egypt posted this ad by mistake, why would there be an N96 ads on Egyptian territory, it’s almost illegal 
, Until just Today, where all this got explained by a simple SPAM SMS!
I was in the university lab trying to finish up what I was asked so I could catch the early 4PM bus when I received a message from Raya, one of four Nokia distributors in Egypt that stated:
Nokia N96 soon in Egypt with 16 GB memory, 5 mega pixel camera,n-gage games and music.Visit your nearest Raya Store and book now. For more info call 19900.
I didn’t buy it at first, It was almost too good to be true until I went to the nearest Raya Store and the salesman confirmed this release, but and there’s buts, The Phone’s GPS chip will be disabled by firmware, and Nokia’s remaining GPS line won’t be released, just the N96, limited shipments available, It will start selling this week for 4700LE, equivalent to 840$, In case you’re interested, you can rush into the nearest Raya store and pre-order the device.
So, Thank you Nokia, Thanks for listening to me and following HTC’s footsteps “You probably did this without listening though :P”, hopefully more devices to come, and to you the fellow Egyptians that’ll buy the device from Raya, make sure you keep checking this blog as I’ll be posting the guide to unlocking the GPS chip trapped into your devices.
Oh, and incase if you’re wondering, I caught the bus. 
:P
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Dear Youngman,
I’m Egyptian, 54 Years old, currently retired ( thanks to privatization), I love Gadgets and I have a story to tell.
Just like you, I received the Raya SMS, so I took my credit card and went to nearest Raya outlet., I have to state that my Egypt, along with Syria and North Korea are the only 3 countries in the world that does not allow the GPS mobiles. At the same time all the previous models like N95, N95 8GB (which I also own) and N82 are available in the black market in Cairo without Nokia warranty.
Any ways, I found a note on the phone box mentioning that the GPS is disabled on these units as it was manufactured only to be used in Egypt.
As an advanced user, I knew that most of the modern mobiles processors contains the GPS as an integrated part of the processor and I assume that N96 is no exception (it use a dual ARM 9 processor with 332MHz Clock Rate).
So I came up to a conclusion that if Nokia wants to sell this phone legally in Egypt through the authorized dealer and according to the governmental rules it will disable the GPS using a software to block the GPS Comm. Port not by eliminating the GPS as Hardware, (a year ago HTC did the same thing when the Tytn II (Windows Mobile) was introduced to the Egyptian market but I solved this problem within 1 week after I purchased it on December 2007 by flashing the phone ROM with the help of a very friendly Web site for the Tytn II fans, they offered the original English ROM that upon installation freed up the GPS Comm. Port then in a separate folder they offered the Arabic Language files that enables the users in our region to read, write SMS and e-mail in Arabic)
Although I can purchase the N96 from the same shop that I usually get my GPS phones from but – as a retired old man – I found it very interesting and challenging to buy it from Raya and invest some time – as I have lot of time now- to solve the GPS problem as I did with the HTC Tytn II.
Thank you and wish you luck and for sure i will keep you informed if i can solve this issue.
Current mobile details:
Software Version: 11.018
Date: 13.9.2008
Custom Version: 11.018.098.1
Language Set: 010
RM-247
@GiveWay
Thanks for the HUGEEE comment, The solution of what you’re asking is already there , A simple change to the product code of the device to any other product code (Gulf code(s) recommended so as not to lose Arabic support) would reactivate the GPS chip built in the device.
As soon as my college’s quizes are done, I’ll post a complete easy to follow guide on this issue. so stay tuned.
Wish you good luck in your quizes, I’m little confused about the b-phreaks software and about how i can obtain Gulf area codes. so I will wait till your easy guide.
Good luck again and thanks.
Dear Mr. Kirollos
The job is done, I downloaded the software, changed the mobile code with a code obtained from the Gulf area then ran the software update and all was done.
I am happy, thanks to you
Me?! I didn’t do a thing
Enjoy your GPS Navigation
, you need to install Egypt’s map, if you’re facing any problem doing this, just leave a comment.
Or it could have been preinstalled, I dunno.
I already did so, loaded the latest map using Nokia Map Uploader, Now all of my phones (the Omnia i900, N95 8GB and the N96) are up and running
he guys, look i have a serious problem ……….i need the Gps badly ………..,,,, and i have tried all the tings u have said (1-i have changed the product code from the gulf area (gulf black)…2-then i installed the new software update) and it didn’t work …..so guys i really need u’r help…….
Just to let you know , After I got the Nokia N79 from Raya , Here’s what I’ve done trying to enable the GPS.
1- Tried NSS to change my product code but sadly , NSS doesn’t Support N79.
2- Successfully Installed and used Phoenix to install another firmware,
I found , Pre-loaded , on the device that firmware “egProductCode EGYPT NO GPS Pewter Seal Grey ”
So i was sure that its only a matter of firmware lock after reading that “NO GPS” , But I installd successfully “KSA Firmware” also tried ” UAE Firmware ” and ” Another one that was called Arabic1 ” and finally ” EURO Firmware ” and sadly , The Same problem presists.
No GPS connection at all.
So can it be a hardware lock ?
I noticed that After installing the firmwares above , every firmware changes the phone’s product code to that product code of the country’s firmware.
Anyone who has the GPS working on the Egyptian N79 let me know please.
Thanks
I went through the same hassle as you did and could not fet the GPS on my N79 to work, BUT few days ago the Egyptian government has lifted the ban over using GPS in Egypt (follow this link to read the official statement at http://www.tra.gov.eg/english/News_NewsDetails.asp?PID=36&ID=155 )
So we – Egyptian users – are expecting an update from Nokia to unlock the communication port in our recently purchased devices, in my case a 2 weeks old N79.
HTC is already offering an updates for GPS devices that is sold in Egypt, as I downloaded the new Flash ROM for my HTC Touch HD and the GPS is working now.
Aaah, games, they’ve taken so much of my precious lifetime already. I wonder if I’ll get a bonusgame when I die =P
Hey people! I live in the UAE. I just bought an N96 GPS enabled, but I can’t figure it out. Is an internet connection required to use the GPS? If an internet connection is required then I guess it is impossible to use. Can anyone help me out how to use it?