Correction at 10 a.m. PDT: The story incorrectly listed which push e-mail solutions the E71 works with. It does not work with BlackBerry Connect or GoodLink.
Nokia E66
(Credit: Nokia)It may be that the Nokia E series sometimes suffers from Jan Brady syndrome as it gets overshadowed by a flashier member of its family--the Nokia N series (aka Marcia Brady). But the E series is just as bright and deserves some recognition too.
Traditionally, the E series devices have been very corporate centric and serious in design, but now Nokia is updating the line with the introduction of the Nokia E66 and Nokia E71, bringing with them a modernized look and a fresh set of features. Here's the breakdown:
Nokia E66: The successor to the Nokia E65, the E66 continues to offer a cool slider design, but it's been trimmed down and comes in gray or white with steel accents. The smartphone also has "turn-to-full view," which is similar to the iPhone's accelerometer feature in that when you turn the device on its side, the screen orientation will automatically switch from portrait to landscape mode. You can also alternate between Business and Personal mode. In Business mode, you'll have all your productivity tools readily accessible on your home screen, such as e-mail, calendar, and documents. Meanwhile, when you switch to Personal view, you'll get access to your multimedia files, the Web, and so forth.
The Nokia E66 will continue to run the third edition of the S60 platform on the Symbian operating system and has integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 (with A2DP support). Plus, it now offers assisted GPS and U.S. 3G support (850/1900; HSDPA). Other goodies include a 3.2-megapixel camera, support for Nokia's Ovi Internet service, 110MB internal memory plus microSD slot (supports up to 8GB cards), and a 2.4-inch QVGA nontouch display.
Nokia E71
(Credit: Nokia)Nokia E71: The E71 represents the more dramatic design makeover of the two. Taking over for the Nokia E61i, the E71 is still very much a messaging-centric device with its full QWERTY keyboard but it's not as bulky or dull-looking anymore. The smartphone measures 4.4 inches tall by 2.2 inches wide by 0.4 inch deep and weighs 4.4 ounces, compared with the E61i's dimensions of 4.6 inches tall by 2.7 inches wide by 0.5 inch deep and 5.3 ounces. The E71 will also come in gray or white, and have a 2.36-inch, 16 million-color QVGA display.
Feature wise, the Symbian smartphone supports Mail for Exchange, POP/IMAP accounts, and works with a number of push e-mail solutions, including Intellisync Wireless E-mail, Visto, and Seven Always-On Mail. The E71 will also have integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, HSDPA, assisted GPS, and the Business and Personal home screens.
Outlook: Both the Nokia E65 and E61i have a loyal following and have garnered good user reviews, so I'm sure current owners will be interested in the upgrade. However, as with Nokia's other high-end phones, the Nokia E66 and Nokia E71 have not been picked up by a U.S. carrier and will only be sold as unlocked handsets, meaning they'll carry a steep price tag (pricing has not been finalized but we suspect somewhere in the $300 to $500 range) and thus, limit the reach of the smartphones. Still, the E66 and E71 are shaping up to be some strong workhorses for the business community, and we'll, of course, give them a workout when we get them in for review. Both mobiles are slated to be available in the third quarter (around July/August) with the Nokia E71 expected to ship slightly ahead of the Nokia E66.
Click the image to start the Nokia E65 slide show.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)Back in February at the 3GSM World Congress, Nokia introduced three new models to its E series of business-centric smart phones: the Nokia E65, the Nokia E61i, and the Nokia E90. We oohed and we ahhed, and went through our usual pangs of defeat as we resigned ourselves to fact that we probably wouldn't see these devices in the United States. Well, lift up your heads and break those piggy banks, my friends, because today the Finnish cell phone manufacturer announced the U.S. availability of the Nokia E65 and Nokia E61i (the E90 is expected to ship in Q3). Unfortunately, there's no U.S. carrier backing for either phone so you'll shell out about $400 for each, and you can buy them directly from Nokia's Web site or from one of the company's flagship stores. Both smart phones run Symbian OS 9.1 and feature 2-megapixel cameras as well as integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The Nokia E65 boasts a compact slider design and offers more voice-centric features, while the Nokia E61i goes after the messaging fanatics with its full QWERTY keyboard. Read our reviews to see which one is right for you.
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Nokia E61i, Nokia E90, Nokia E65
(Credit: Nokia )Things are hoppin' at the 3GSM World Congress, and Nokia's certainly contributing to the par-tay with a number of announcements this morning. First, the company has added three new models to its E series of smart phones: the Nokia E61i, the Nokia E65, and the Nokia E90 Communicator. Keeping in line with the rest of the series, the new devices are aimed at business users and have a long laundry list of corporate-friendly features. However, the E61i, E90, and E65 also offer new, sleeker designs that say, "Hey, us business peeps can have fun, too." Here is a quick summary of what each mobile has to offer and expected availability dates.
Nokia E65: Perhaps the most exciting of the three, the Nokia E65 sports a snazzy slider design while remaining business-tough on the inside. The handset has a new one-touch key on the front cover that gives you quick access to frequently used apps, and you also can organize these favorites on your home screen with a feature called Active Standby. In addition, the E65 can be integrated with a number of corporate telephony systems and e-mail solutions. The Nokia E65 is available now in selected markets with a worldwide release planned during Q1.
Nokia E61i: Similar to the Nokia E62, the E61i has a new keyboard design with navigation and one-touch keys, and an upgraded 2-megapixel camera. There are e-mail options aplenty, with support for Nokia Intellisync, Good Mobile Messaging, Mail for Exchange, Seven Mobile Mail, and BlackBerry Connect. The Nokia E61i also can handle document editing and has a built-in media player. Expected availability for the phone is Q2.
Nokia E90 Communicator: A much-needed upgrade to the Nokia 9300, the E90 now joins the E series family and upgrades to the S60 platform, so you have access to more mobile apps. The 3G-capable phone also has integrated Wi-Fi, as well as GPS and Nokia Maps, so you can use it as a handheld navigator. Other goodies include an FM radio, a media player, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a 16 million-color display. The E90 is scheduled for release during Q2.
As with all of Nokia's super-cool cell phones and smart phones, the U.S. availability of the new E series is up in the air. Nokia has said it's working on making it easier to purchase unlocked versions of phones from its Web site, though it'll cost you a pretty penny. We're working ourselves to wrangle up these phones for review, so check back soon; also check out News.com for more information on today's announcements.
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