Also, please keep in mind that if your N900 is in fact new and unused, then depending on the provenance of it, it might well come with its original battery, which was possibly manufactured anywhere up to three years ago.

If so, this will be substantially degraded if it has not been charged and used - more so, in fact, than if it has been used. So, even if the phone is otherwise perfect, unless it came recently from a trusted source then you will do will to treat the battery as suspect. It will probably work after a fashion, but, you will probably derive an above average benefit from replacing it with a new Scud.