Nokia is having problems with launch of the North America model of the 5800 handset. Nokia USA this weekend stopped selling the American version of the 5800 in its two flagship stores in New York and Chicago, just a few days after the U.S. introduction on February 26. Nokia is now selling the European version of 5800 as a replacement.

Two major problems plagued the North American model of the Nokia 5800. The first is in the form of the phone's earpiece speakers, which are reportedly not properly protected against moisture; and the second is the phone's inability to find AT&T 3G network, which led to many customers returning the phone.

Nokia confirmed this weekend that many of the 5800 handsets delivered worldwide before January 2009 have a problem with the phone's earpiece, which wasn't properly protected from moisture ingestions. The company said that all the faulty earpieces have now been replaced with units produced by a different manufacturer. Nokia 5800 handsets bought after January 2009 should not experience this problem.