The Nokia E-series has arrived
The new line of Nokia E-series phones combines mobile, landline, email and instant messaging in a state-of-the-art mobile office. More than that, these phones look good, feel good and continue Nokia's famous tradition of user friendliness.
Recent studies by Nokia have shown that 80% of employees in the Middle East and Africa are away from their desk -- and hence away from email and landlines -- for at least 20% of the working day. With the E-series, no matter where you are, you can keep full connectivity in the palm of your hand.
One of the most attractive features of the phone is the combination of mobile and office phone. A hard-wired handset on the office desk is no longer a necessity; when someone with this phone walks into the office, he is immediately connected to the phone network through the Nokia device's WLAN capabilities. This is a major benefit for the manager who likes to get out and about in the office or on the factory floor. For open-plan offices it is heaven-sent, as colleagues will no longer be terrorized by endlessly ringing phones at their neighbor's vacant desk. If, like most busy managers, you are horrified at the idea of being constantly at the beck and call of your phone line, never fear: If you don't answer the call, it is automatically directed to voicemail or you can disconnect with the push of a single button.
This feature is also cost effective, as Voice Over IP (VOIP) replaces the phone company's contract once the phone is covered by the office WLAN. Volvo Trucks in France has calculated that Voice Over IP (VOIP) could lower its communication costs by over 30%; a worldwide survey by the Aberdeen Group has shown that VOIP saves about $150 per user per year. This means that a company of 100 employees could save up to $150,000 per year.
Nokia has also taken into account corporate security considerations. The series is equipped with built-in operating system security, ensuring that only specific people can access hardware like GSM, 3G, Bluetooth and WLAN. The devices also support remote management, providing additional security for any stored corporate information. Remote management means that a business's IT department can lock or wipe data from a stolen Nokia, as well as manage applications on the device, customizing them to their user a very useful feature for the non-tech-savvy manager or employee.
From a user perspective, one of the devices' highlights is the toolbar, which the user can customize to display the six mostly frequently used applications, ensuring easy access. The E61 and E90 come with the ability to unzip, manage and edit attachments, including documents, spreadsheets, presentations and PDFs. All the devices have a common set of advanced voice features and support multiple mobile e-mail clients. Think: Receiving emails even while on the phone.
And the phones themselves? While entirely functional, they retain an element of style that means they seamlessly translate from a business tool into a personal phone. The phones look nice, come in a range of styles, and are all equipped with Nokia's user-friendly software. Thanks to the high resolution screens that are standard across the range -- 352 x 416 pixel resolution and 16.7 million colors -- websites appear with the quality of a normal computer; the E-series even formats the page so the text fits the screen. As for typing, the E61i stands out from the pack with its QWERTY keyboard, but the buttons are slightly stiff and smaller than on previous versions. The E90 keyboard with square, slightly-domed keys is a little more user-friendly.
The overall verdict: Nokia has launched a serious strike into the heart of the smart phone battle, with an E-series phone attractive both to employees and their offices.
The Features
E90 Communicator
128MB SDRAM memory, 350 MHz processor, GPS service, QWERTY Keyboard, 3G capabilities, 3.15 MP camera. While weighty, it's essentially a tiny laptop.
E61i
64MB SDRAM memory, 220 MHz processor, QWERTY Keyboard, 3G capabilities, 400 hours standby, 9 hours talk time, 2 MP camera.
E65
128 MB SDRAM memory, 220 MHz processor, 3G capabilities, 265 hours standby, 6 hours talk time, 2MP camera. The slide has a reputation for being unstable.
E51
96 MD SDRAM memory, 369 MHz processor, 3G capabilities, 310 hours standby, 4 hours 20 minutes talk time, 2 MP camera.
By Hassan Hassan
© Business Today Egypt 2008
