The Verge reports that US backers of its LTE version of the Yotaphone 2 will get sort-of refunds or trade for the international version. Supplier problems cited.
International version would have slow and vanishing network support, but refunds would be issued to debit cards, which are not something every American would have . . .

arg, harmattan tmo client hurts brain when trying to post links,

http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/31/90...ne-us-canceled

History proves it again:

it's not a simple task for company to release phone in US.

Not even big company such as Nokia who did not release N9 in US

And Jolla did not even consider release phone in US.

For two years ago I worked as consult for a upstart company. We did a GSM consumer product that should be launched in EU and US. AFAIK that company still has not released product in US...

AFAIK US has plenty of rules that must be applied before one can launch product in the US.

Many of which are arbitrary, unnecessary for any safety or technical reason and simply there for the purpose of protectionism.

Agree 100%

The North American market is unnecessarily hard to enter, smaller and more fickle than other markets and above all isn't really worth it to many smaller manufacturers in my estimation.

And if you decide to enter it, you're subjected to the archaic carrier system who wants their cut like some mafia and a governing committee that wants to stifle innovation and both are empowered by a government that places a former telecommunications CEO as the communications commissioner (FCC) is... well, should be a conflict of interest.

I actually was somewhat looking forward to the Yotaphone 2 in the US directly, but this update doesn't really surprise me.

Type approval for the US market in many industries, and 'mandatory' features 'required' by consumers (actually pushed by domestic corps) have always been a huge barrier to entry for potential foreign competitors. Indeed, in the face of a chronic lack of innovation and efficiency in many industries, it's been the only way they have been able to compete. There's no better example than the car industry.

I think it comes down to the political system in the US more than anything ... it's all about money, patronage and pork barreling ... if there's a gravy train, the lobbyists make damn sure the politicians know their electoral future depends on maintaining and protecting it, and together they conspire to ensure that it isn't derailed, even if it erodes competitiveness and scares off inward investment.