Nokia Navigator: Genuine article or rip off?

My last trip to Singapore included picking up a Nokia Navigator at one of the many phone shops in Toa Payoh. Here’s an update on how things are going with that device here in Bali.

The staff at the camera shop in Singapore added tax to calculate the total cost of the phone, assuring me I could get it back at the GST (government service tax) desk at the airport, as long as I had my sale receipt. Arriving at Changi airport and finding the desk, I was informed I could not get my money back as the seller was not a member of the GST refund program. Calling him directly on the phone his staff sold me, I gave him a piece of my mind. He turned out to be a decent fellow and offered to pay me ther GST cash next time I come to Singapore (I’ll make sure he does).

The Nokia Navigator strongly touts its GPS, equipped with maps for easy travelling. I loaded my maps from the CD that came with it, only to find a ‘padlock’ symbol over each of the maps (there actually aren’t maps for Bali). Contacting Route 66, the mapping company, they told I had to pay a fee to activate the ‘free’ maps. Is this a scam? Seems like the usual corporate rip off story to me. I’m sick of these type of deals.

Anyway the phone and SMS works okay, so as long as my son doesn’t use it for a tennis ball it might last a while.