What happens when you use a pickaxe to operate your N86

James Whatley isn’t having a good day.

Despite the fact he’s traversing Mont Blanc (or something like that, in the Alps), and although the scenery is simply fantastic, he’s experienced a tragic set of circumstances.

He’s ‘dun-in’ his beautiful Nokia N86.

Have a look:

The screen is, of course, smashed. The softkeys are unusable. BUUUT it can still take beautiful, beautiful photos. Like this one:

Whatley chose the N86 as his Lucozade Energy handset — he’s been using it to document the series of super world-crossing trips he’s been involved with on behalf of energy drinks manufacturer, Lucozade.

He even used his N86 to bungee jump the Victoria Falls (if you haven’t seen the vid, definitely go and see it).

And now his phone is kaput.

At first I thought he’d literally pick-axed it. But he tells me he simply sat on it. I suspect there was quite a lot of stress involved to damage the handset that badly.

James, a loyal Vodafone customer, would normally be sitting pretty after a quick call to the Vodafone insurance folk, the new one would be in the post the next day.

But sadly the N86 isn’t covered by Vodafone insurance. It’s not a contract one from Voda. (I was hoping they might stock it, but alas not it seems).

Although if James was minded, he could swap to T-Mobile UK and pick-up the N86 for an entirely reasonable £49 on a £40/month 18-month contract. Or £30 a month from 3UK.

Or — and this is my preferred option, Lucozade cough up £344 to get the handset from Expansys, contract free.

That said I know he’s often commented that he’d consider swapping to Android or iPhone, away from Nokia. You never know. Perhaps this is the time, James?