Deal Alert: Nokia 5530 XM North American model for $249.99 at Costco, with extras

I am getting ready to post my review of the Nokia 5530 that I was sent to evaluate for 30 days and then just received a flyer from Costco with the device on the 2nd page. You can now pick up the Nokia 5530 for $249.99, after the $50 instant rebate from the coupon in the coupon book. I really did not expect to see this device here in the US so soon. The version listed on Costco also shows WCDMA 850/1900 MHz frequency support so you can get up to 384 kbps data with AT&T so it will be a bit faster than EDGE you see on T-Mobile and with the European unlocked model.

The Costco package also includes an 4 GB microSD card (further down the package list states it is an 8GB card so it could be bigger) and plectrum stylus. The stats also show the device has an integrated GPS receiver while the one I am testing has no GPS receiver. Another bonus is that the battery is 1320 mAh (BL-5J) rather than the 1000 mAh (BL-4U) found on the European version. Finally, you get these 20 titles loaded on the device: Abracadaball American Idol Asphalt 4 Bejeweled Brain Challenge 2 Bubble Bash 2 Guitar Rock Tour 2 Midnight Pool 2 Monopoly Deal Monopoly Here & Now Need For Speed: Undercover New York Nights 2 Platinum Solitaire Pro Golf 2010 Sims 2: Castaway Sims 3 Spore Tetris Texas Hold’em Poker Trivial Pursuit It looks to me like this NAM version is a nice deal for Nokia fans and if I didn’t already have a Nokia N97 I would consider this device.