Khaled rambles technology, tea/coffee, consumer rights and other interest from Saudi Arabia

Flickr with Nokia Share Online 4.3

I have a Nokia N79, a very basic Symbian S60 phone. One of the frustrating things that the Share Online app (an app that allows me to upload media to web services) only listed 2 services: Vox and Ikbis. Flickr (the biggest online photo service) was not available for a number of countries including Saudi Arabia.

The only method was to use a config file on Flickr's site to manually install flickr support on Nokia Share Online. It worked until the latest Nokia update was released.

I updated my Nokia N79 to v20 firmware and with it the Share Online tool was updated to version 4. When I ran the Share Online app the flickr and Vox profiles I have added are gone! I tried to add them but the only service available was Ikbis and I can no longer add Vox! Flickr cfg file was unsuccessful. Many users on the nokia forums have the same issue (here, here and here ) they are from India and other countries that Nokia don't care about.

Sure I could use pixelpipe or Shozu but this service is available in the phone already! If I insert a German SIM card then the phone will be able to add flickr so why is it limited? I have found a list of countries that "support flickr" on this page (check comment number 43).

Nokia needs to actually CARE about providing services to all it's customers and Saudi Arabia is one of their biggest markets! My friend Maxer posted here "We need it open to Middle Eastern users" and you know what, Nokia? I just want to upload to Flickr using Share Online.

Is there a licensing deal between Nokia and Flickr about which countries to add? This is what Nokia told me:

However, kindly note that some services are not available in some countries such as Saudi Arabia and others. The access to those services was restricted, such restriction was deemed necessary due to the laws and social norms of these countries regarding web content. Access is blocked based on the IP ranges of these countries. We apologize for the inconvenience caused.

I can access Flickr in Saudi Arabia just fine! So I contacted Flickr support, they couldn't do anything except:

I have escalated your email to a senior representative in an effort to obtain the best answer. Please allow some time for a follow-up reply to your question.

This is discouraging me from becoming a Flickr Pro subscriber. It is unfortunate that Nokia is doing this to it's customers. By the way if you are an iPhone user then I recommend a free app called "Flickit" for uploading to Flickr.

Related posts:

1. Flickr with Nokia Share Online in Saudi Arabia
2. What I did with my Nokia N95
3. Nokia software update over the air
4. Bricked my N95 after an update. Nokia says “You got water in it!”
5. Nokia in Saudi Arabia: Screw the consumers