After reading several reviews, I ordered a Nokia E-71 Unlocked US Version from Amazon. This is the first Unlocked Phone I get and will comment on "unlocked devices" at the end. I selected a Nokia E-71 after having tried several phones which included the LG Incite, RIM's Storm, Samsung's Omnia and the Blackberry Bold. Why did I not stay with any of these phones? Basically because of very few and subtle advantages found on the Finnish product wanting a phone of proper size capable of my e-mail, multimedia and web searching needs.
With the E-71 Nokia's has been able to offer consumers a beautiful stainless steel device full of features that most users will probably never even know that they have on their hands. From an Infrared Transmitter, to literally reading your messages so you actually listen to e-mails instead of having to read small fonts on the screen to voice dialing, an integrated GPS and a full multimedia system that allows you to see videos, podcasts and listen to your favorite music. Not to mention good quality of reception, sound, a great Symbian OS, up to ten e-mails and all powered by the well known long lasting Nokia battery.
The shortcomings are only few in my opinion. The first one is the micro jack for the headphones and microphone. The second one is the micro USB port for connection with the computer. Nokia should have used the standard ones like other companies have been doing. The third shortcoming is the small screen fonts (even on the large setting) that make difficult reading some e-mails and MM messages. Besides these three, I consider that all the plusses make these limitations not significant.
Unlike most American products, Nokia uses a port for charging the phone separate than the one used for connecting the phone to the computer. This has pros and cons but for me is better leaving the phone charging wherever I want instead of needing to leave it next to the computer in another area of the house. As well, if you are away from home and do not have a computer, the charger will do it by itself.
The E-71 has a full Qwerty keyboard and this is what probably makes this phone the best choice for persons that need or like to type considerably. What makes the keyboard unique is its design. First, the keys with numbers have been located in the center. Those of us who have used the Bold and other RIM products have struggled when trying to type the numbers 4 and 7 in a sentence because they are immediate next to the only ALT key of the RIM keyboards. You will not have this problem with the E-71.
Nokia has wisely assigned lowercase keys to two of the most important characters when surfing the web or composing e-mails. These are the @ and the period ( . ). On other devices such as the RIM ones, these have to be activated trough ALT plus the corresponding key. On the Nokia keyboard the @ is immediately left of the space bar and the period is slightly up and to the right. These become very convenient when typing.
This keyboard has a very attractive charcoal colored (almost black) on the grey version. In order to differentiate the keys with numbers, the upper half of these have a lighter color. Thus, if you turn the phone slightly downwards, 12 keys in the center show up in grey color. These have the numbers 0 to 9 and the # and * keys often used when accessing message centers and companies. In order to have all these in just three rows of keys, Nokia has placed the zero to the right of the number 9. Not what we are used to but quite clever.
Compared with the Bold the keys are somewhat smaller and no space between them. But, their convex shape makes typing relatively easy even for persons with big thumbs. One thing that works for me is having the phone flat on a surface and type with the index fingers.
On the upper part of the keyboard, ten keys have been arranged in a not so usual way which includes the square that substitutes the "rolling ball mouse". At first was sort of difficult to use it but when you web browse, the logic behind becomes evident.
This is one of the few phones that comes with a leather strap which attaches on the lower left corner of the device. This is extremely convenient when you receive a call and need to rapidly take out the phone from a pant pocket or if it's being carried inside your jacket or coat.
The installed software has many features which are found only in more expensive devices. Their Office Suite has even the Acrobat reader and Word and Excel documents can be edited. Not so with PowerPoint, Access and Publisher but that' Ok since the screen on cell phones is relatively small. I guess that the IR Transmitter will be useful sending a document to a printer so you'll be able to see/read it in full size.
Thus, the E-71 is a product with multiple capabilities that can be used as a phone, a micro computer, a messaging system and even as a substitute of your Personal Video Player to watch your favorite videos while commuting or flying. Even though it was intended for companies (that's why the E; for Enterprises) the device can easily make its way into the average consumer. Needless to say, I consider this Nokia the best bang for your buck in the current world of smart phones. I have had mine for four weeks and plan on keeping it.
Currently there are two versions of the phone being sold "unlocked"; the US version and the European version. At the time I wrote this (01/09) those that plan to use the ATT network needed to get the US version. In contrast, T-Mobile users need to get the European version. This is because of the different operating frequencies of the carriers.
Why should someone get an Unlocked Phone instead of buying one with a plan? Well, it's what you will end up playing with the plan for the next two years. Carriers actually make more money out of the contract ( at least $2,500) than of the alleged discounted price of the phone ($250).
I have been a customer of Cingular/ATT since the first cell phones came out in the nineties and do not complain of their reception in general. As well have had Sprint and Verizon but only because of reception problems with ATT in specific geographical areas I've lived.
But, this time I bought an "unlocked" phone because I did not want to be "locked" with a two year contract with any company. That way, when advances in technology present us with a better product, I'll be able to get it immediately.
Get more detail about Nokia E71 Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Media Player, GPS, Wi-Fi, and MicroSD Slot--U.S. Version with Warranty (Gray).
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