The latest email-optimized device from the Nokia E-eries, the sleek and slender Nokia E71 makes it easy to stay on top of your email inbox with a full QWERTY keyboard and support for corporate communication via Microsoft Exchange. It’s ready to run on 3G networks here in the U.S. (850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, at home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots. The svelte stainless steel Nokia E71 keeps you mobilized with a broad range of personal and professional messaging needs. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth for handsfre (more…)
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
first a comparison to the e61i: i had both the e61 and e61i and this is a major improvement over both. the form factor is incredible as it is only 10mm thin, much narrower than its predecessors, and feels very solid and sleek with its all metal body. the phone is just beautiful to look at. nokia has improved its processor greatly and the phone has almost no wait time with all its functions now. when i went back to use the e61i, it was unbearably slow compared to the e71. the keypad on the e71, although a little cramped, feels good on the fingers. one of my biggest complaints about the e61i was that earphone speaker was hard to hear out of, but the e71’s narrower body and seemingly louder speaker solves the problem. the e71 has also added a microUSB port, and 2.5mm earphone jack. in terms of software, the e71 has an updated symbian os that includes some additional features and programs that were pleasant to see. the biggest program improvements for me was the updated organizer and the shortcut key options. for all e61 and e61i users out there, the e71 is a must update to nokia’s wonderful line of phones.
comparison to competitors: function-wise, it has all the features blackberry’s and the iphone 3g have. however, the e71 is much smaller than both (just put the e71 side to side with the blackberry curve and the iphone and they both look like monsters compared to the e71). i have no complaints with the 3g and 3.5g (umts/hsdpa), and I’m not sure what the other reviewer was talking about– it must be a network/area dependent problem. i live in the SF bay area and i almost always connect to the 3.5g network with att and the internet is extremely fast, comparable to web browsing on a computer with broadband cable access. i really dont like the all touch screen of the iphone, so i would never consider it. i was debating between the curve and e71, but e71 beats it in both function and form-factor. the e71 has a umts/hsdpa, 3mp camera, and better battery life. all the rest (OS mainly) is just up to personal preference.
concluding remarks: if you ask “why should I get the e71″, i would answer with these points based on what “I” feel is most important:
- very fast 3G capability
- excellent size, feel, and look,
- speedy processor with no lag in navigation
- improved OS and great computer connection software (nokia pc suite)
- long battery life
- 3MP camera with flash
- comes with carrying case, carrying strap, stereo earphones, and data cable
- and lastly, did i mention that this is the most beautiful i have ever seen? see one for yourself (i know its hard b/c they dont really have them in stores) and you will love the look and feel of it.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Some notes to consider for this phone:
3G — Despite Amazon saying this is the US Version of the phone (which it is,) this phone does NOT work with T-mobile 3G in the US. T-Mobile 3G in the US uses the 1700 mhz spectrum (you can read on wikipedia as for the reasons why) and there are no 3G roaming agreements with AT&Ts 3G spectrum like there is with EDGE. That being said, I have found that EDGE is fast enough for my web browsing and e-mail use (220 kbps+.) Using GSM/EDGE only also more than doubles your battery life, so this is not an entirely bad thing for T-Mobile users. The 10 hours talk-time and 17 day standby is no joke with GSM either.
Network Settings — Nokia has a great website that will text you all the internet, voicemail, and MMS settings for your carrier to the unlocked phone.
Bluetooth Tethering — This phone does not tether with Mac OS 10.4 Tiger. It does tether perfectly with 10.5 Leopard. It tethers with Windows XP via included Nokia PC Suite. It would be nice if a Mac suite were included from Nokia but Apple provides everything necessary with Leopard. It obviously tethers perfectly with Nokia N800/N810.
GPS — The GPS in the phone is first class with both an actual GPS receiver and assisted GPS through cell tower. It works much better than my TomTom One especially indoors. The phone comes with a great program called Maps but the only drawback (and it is a HUGE drawback) is that you have to pay a monthly fee to use any sort of route guidance. You’re allowed to see your position and browse maps for free but if you want to plan a route it costs extra. It comes with a 7 day trial that you should save for emergencies in my opinion.
Networks in General — This phone works great on both AT&T and T-Mobile but each has their drawbacks. AT&T has the faster network but limits you to 5Gb/month bandwidth and charges extra to tether. T-Mobile allows actual unlimited data on EDGE and allows free tethering to any device but has the slower “2.75G” EDGE data network. Wifi is available on the phone and works flawlessly.
Third Party Apps — Two must have apps are the S60 Divx player and the Slick IM client (AIM, Jabber, Etc.) The Nokia mail client works great and a third party solution is not necessary.
All in all this is a first class phone whose only missing feature is a touch screen. Depending on your need for a QWERTY keyboard I would say this and the N95 are battling it out for best phone in the world right now.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
As the first phone to run on the US 3G network (and in some areas even faster 3.5 G), I was wondering how well this would work as a modem for my laptop for accessing the internet.
Guess what? I’m using this regularly now to connect my macbook to the internet! I’m giving up my mobile aircard (which costs about $ 70 per month) and I’m just using my unlimited mobile internet. Another positive - no need to take out the usb aircard dongle and insert it into the side of the laptop each time I need to use it!
The connection is fast enough to download video and music (you tube etc. will work fine both on the phone and the tethered mac) but the phone gets hot when it’s used as a modem. It also uses a lot of power so for long time use as a modem, I’d keep it plugged into the charger.
Joikuspot is the software I used ($ 25 for a perpetual license) to tether my phone to the macbook so I can use internet.
I’m happy that MS office comes built in. I’m able to import my financial worksheets (even big ones where I do financial modelling) and it still works fast.
Fring works well on these phone - much better than on the Nokia N95. With Fring and my Skype call-out account, I can carry on telephone conversations with almost as much clarity as using my skype on the laptop. In the N95 (which is also a great cellphone), the processor isn’t fast enough to allow phone conversations - the voice quality is so degraded that it’s barely understandable. Apparently, Nokia placed a very powerful processor in this machine.
And since it has a fast processor, all the applications open almost instantly and my cousin, a Blackberry curve user was so impressed with the speed he said it’s the next phone he’ll get.
Another excellent software I like using with this phone is my Salling Clicker. I use it for remotely controlling itunes in my laptop (like when there’s a party and I was to change albums or artists from my phone) or clicking to the next slide in my powerpoint presentation or fast forwarding my DVD player to the next chapter.
This is a lot of technology for the money and I highly recommend it to everyone!
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nokia E71, Unlocked
I like this phone. It has tons of features. Nokia tries to bundle as many features as possible to include in this model.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
cool phone
Just got this phone for use on AT&T.
Pros:
- Multi-tasking operating system. You can have many applications open and switch
between them, don’t have to…
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
almost perfect
If you have a telephone with all the functions that a phone can have
(and everything works fast and accurate), with a beautifull design and builded with luxury materials…
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good phone for small handed person
This is a good phone, but not a real good smart phone. It has wi-fi, easily shifts between email accounts,can send group texts; it does a lot of things real well.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great little machine
Feels great in your hand and the keyboard buttons are much better than the Blackjack II that I broke. Amazingly thin and fits well in a pocket.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best smart phone out there…
Simply put, you can’t find any better smart phone. It’s tiny, sleek, thin, big screen, real buttons (can’t stand those touch screens), and has the Microsoft exchange server, which…
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
3G will not work with US T-mobile
This is the best phone I’ve owned so far. Had a E65 before and older phones from Nokia. They just keep getting better.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hardcore email needs? Pass on this phone…
The Nokia E71 bills itself as a ‘messaging device’, but is it really? No.
The ActiveSync that comes out of the box only syncs one email folder.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flawless victory from Nokia
The size, the weight, the OS, the screen resolution, the apps, the qwerty, the desing…everything is great.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
EASIEST SMARTPHONE TO USE
MY DEVICES: MOTO Q, SAMSUNG EPIX, PALM PRO, BLACKBERRY BOLD,NOKIA E71
CARRIER: ATT
THE NOKIA E71 is the easiest and fastest phone of that group for me…