Nokia E61i Review - Messaging, Internet & Connectivity

Messaging, Internet & Connectivity

The extensive messaging features found on all Series 60 handsets are present on the E61i.  SMS and MMS messaging and email are all managed by the Messaging application, which can handle POP3 and IMAP email protocols.  Since this is an unlocked phone, there are no carrier-branded Email or IM clients to be found.  That’s good in the sense that you’re not being nudged towards any specific solution or provider, but bad in the sense that there are no handy-dandy wizards to help configure your email accounts.

Still, setting up email access was relatively painless, and the email app does a pretty good push email impersonation if you set it to check for new messages at preset intervals.  The E61i also supports Email attachments - a great productivity feature combined with the QuickOffice document viewer and QWERTY board. I was also able to access my Webmail via the handset’s Web browser.

Nokia’s predictive text system is solid and well implemented on the E61i.  I hardly noticed it, though, as the QWERTY board is so great for thumb typing that I was able to compose messages in a “normal typing” frame of mind, tapping out words and punctuation much as a I would on a personal computer. 

The E61i has one of the best Web browsers you’ll find on a cell phone anywhere - the S60 browser is built on the same Webkit technology as the Safari browser on Apple’s iPhone.  You can browse full HTML Websites on the E61i, and the zoom and minimap features make it easier to get navigate them.  The browser also supports RSS feed subscriptions, a feature that more and more seems like it was custom made for cell phone-based information retrieval. 

While the handset doesn’t support 3G data in the US, Web browsing via EDGE wasn’t too bad - the excellent browser software sped things up on the processing and rendering end, which helps.  When in range of an open WiFi network, Web browsing on the E61i is a thing of beauty, as the combination of terrific hardware and software with broadband data speeds makes for a true mobile computer experience.

Being an unlocked Series 60 handset, the E61i is also ready for all kinds of upgrades via user-installable applications.  Browse some Symbian users’ sites on the Web and you’ll find plenty of Internet utility software, from chat applications to programs for FTP, SSH, and other high-tech, acronym-y kind of stuff. 

The Nokia E61i is an unlocked quad-band GSM phone compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, or any other GSM network in the United States and overseas.  The phone can connect to GPRS and EDGE data networks in the US, and 3G UTMS networks on the 2,100-MHz band abroad. 

WiFi data connections via 802.11b/g are also supported, and the handset’s connection wizard and “sniffing” features are impressive.  The E61i will seek out open WiFi networks, connect to them, and save the configurations for later use, all with the greatest of ease (or at least the greatest ease you’ve seen on a mobile handset).

Nokia built Bluetooth v1.2 into the E61i, including support for voice calls, file transfer, and dial-up networking.  I was able to transfer files back and forth between the handset and my computer, and also sync my contacts and calendar data.  File transfer is also supported via a Pop-Port to USB cable.  Depending on your carrier and data plan, the E61i can also be used as a data modem for laptop tethering via Bluetooth or USB.

Next: Conclusion »