In search of the real McCoy

It could be how the straps are stitched, or what the color of the leather is. It could also be how the logo is positioned. There are a lot of ways one can tell whether a bag, item of clothing, or an accessory is a total knock-off.

In the case of a mobile phone, there are various ways on how to tell whether it was bought from the mobile phone brand’s official store, its authorized dealer, or not.

Nokia cares for its customers and wants them to have a fulfilling mobile experience with its many product offerings. This enjoyment comes in the convenience and guarantee of having premium service that the consumer gets at the Nokia Store or from its authorized dealers.

Nokia shares some tips on what to keep an eye out for when looking out for these guarantees:

Blue’s clues

Nokia mobile phones bought in the Nokia Store or from its authorized dealers have a blue 12-month limited warranty sticker from Nokia Care slapped on the top or side parts of the phone’s box.

A Nokia Care tamper-proof warranty sticker is also found in the mobile phone’s accessories such as the charger, battery, memory card, or data cable.

Having a warranty for a year is enough peace of mind that in the event the phone malfunctions, at least you know you can always take it to a Nokia Care center that has properly trained technicians who know the ins and outs of your phone and will only use genuine parts if the handset needs to be repaired.

Stamp of approval

In 2004, Nokia was the first mobile phone manufacturer to comply with NTC regulation of having the type approval details and their logo in the phone.

All Nokia phones bought from the Nokia Store or any of its authorized dealers have this tamper-proof type label at the back of each mobile phone along with the NTC logo and the type acceptance number as part of one sticker. Also found on the back of the mobile phone is the Nokia tamper-proof warranty seal.

Never mind should the inside of your mobile phone looks as if it’s your younger sister’s album of stickers because it’s covered with them, at least you know the stickers on your phone are there for a reason — to prove that you will get genuine parts and reliable service when you need it.

Crash, boom, bang!

The exploding mobile phone battery definitely isn’t an urban myth, it has happened to many unfortunate souls. And more often than not these battery mishaps are caused by contraband or counterfeit Nokia mobile phone batteries that are sold by unauthorized dealers. If you’re not armed with the proper knowledge on how to check if it’s the real deal or not, it may lead to very painful results.

To see if your battery is the real thing, you have to make sure the hologram label reflects the Nokia Connecting Hands at one angle and the Original Enhancements logo at another angle. When you angle the hologram on the left, right, down and upsides of the logo, you should see one, two, three and four dots on each side, respectively.

You could also scratch the side of the label to reveal a 20-digit code, then verify its authenticity at www.nokia-asia.com/check.

Knowing you have a Nokia mobile phone that is bought from the Nokia Store or from its authorized dealers is like holding a real signature bag or wearing branded clothes. You may be forking out a little extra for it but at least you’re assured of the high quality and premium service that goes along with it.