Nokia E-series
Posted by Scott Laird Wed, 12 Oct 2005 16:43:00 GMT
Nokia announced a new block of phones today: the E60, E61, and E70. Unlike the earlier (and still pending) N-series, these are aimed towards corporate users. All three run Series 60 3rd edition and include 802.11g and Bluetooth. They also come with a SIP client so they can interact with business VoIP systems. The low-end model, the E60 is yet another Series 60 candybar phone, like the 6682 and N70, but with WiFi. The E61 is a Blackberry-like model with a QWERTY keyboard and landscape display. Finally, the E70 is a “handlebar” style phone that flips open to reveal a keyboard, half on the left side of the display and half on the right.
After playing with the Nokia 6682 and 9300 yesterday, I’m starting to think that a keyboard would be really nice. I might actually be more interested in the E70 then the N91. Here’s how they compare:
Same:
- 802.11g, bluetooth, 3G
- Series 60, 3rd edition
- 2 MP camera
- Scheduled for 1Q 2006 release
- Similar sizes: (N91: 113.1x55.2x22, E70: 117x53x22)
N91’s favor:
- 4 GB hard drive
- 3.5mm headphone jack
E70’s favor:
- built-in SIP client (might be on N91 also)
- high-res display (352x416, 4x the pixel count)
- QWERTY keyboard
- miniSD slot (1 GB for $75, partially counters the HD on the N91)
- lighter (127g vs 160g)
I’m not sure if the E70 includes the video player that comes on the N91. It’s possible that it includes a 3.5mm headphone jack–the specs list a MP3/AAC player application. The pricing rumors that I’ve seen put the whole E-series around €500 or so, which means that they may actually be cheaper then the N91.
Of course, availability is the key. The N91 was announced months ago, while the E70 is new. However, the E70 isn’t quite as innovative as the N91, so there’s a chance that they’ll arrive on the market (in Europe at least) in a similar timeframe. I have no idea which one will make it through the FCC first. I’m not particularly concerned about US carriers carrying the phone, now that Nokia is selling directly to US consumers. With any luck, our local Nokia demo kiosk will have both and I’ll be able to compare them in person.
Scott, you’ve been after the Treo 650, then the N91, and now the E61. Did you buy any of them?
Cell phone makers need to stop announcing these handsets so far out. There’s always something smaller and faster around the corner with more features. They’re shooting themselves in the foot if you ask me.
That’s a good point–I haven’t actually bought any of them. I’ve been a click away from buying the Treo a few times, but in the end I just couldn’t see how I’d get $600 worth of value out of it. Cingular certainly hasn’t done much to encourage me–every time I’ve tried to see what it’d cost me to upgrade to a locked (and semi-subsidized) Treo their billing website has given me an error and told me to call tech support.
The pre-announcement issue is hard to get around, given the current state of the cellphone industry. Nokia sells most of its phones to carriers, not directly to the public, and the carriers aren’t particularly agile. I suspect that it takes them 6-9 months to decide which phones they’re going to carry, so that gives us a long lead time for phone announcements.
Anyway, my current plan expires in under 4 months, so I’m getting a new phone one way or another. I’ll probably hold out for one of the new Nokias, assuming that they can get them on the US market during the first half of the year.
E61 is worth and better than any other phone of the range. Nokia’s ease of use and configurability and support available across the globe, i am using one and i gave up my windows phone for this one.
good
hi i need more info regarding the e series mobiles can u pass on the info to me
it is excellent product of nokia hope they have a good time in the market.all the best nokia
09960061386 call me to this num