Messaging, Internet & Connectivity
Pre-installed applications on the N73 support for SMS, MMS, and IM messaging, while Series 60 applications can be installed to extend the handset's messaging capabilities. Use of the pre-installed IM client requires a bit more configuration than what's necessary on your standard T-Mobile or Cingular branded phone, but the third-party Agile Messenger client for S60 provides "off the shelf" support for AOL, Yahoo!, MSN, and ICQ instant messaging.
Composing SMS and MMS messages on the N73 was easy, and while not luxuriously spacious, the keypad was roomy enough for comfortable use. Nokia's predictive text input system worked well and provides a handy display of how many characters as you're composing a message.
The included Email client supports multiple POP3 and IMAP accounts, though it does not support BlackBerry Connect push email. The messaging application will, however, continuously check for and download new email headers if you leave it running in the background.
The N73 features the same spectacular Web browser found on Nokia's E70 and N80 phones. As I wrote about those phones, the browser works wonderfully on the N73's roomy display. While the N73 lacks WiFi connectivity and any US-network compatible 3G options (its UMTS 2100 band only works in Europe), Web browsing over EDGE seemed a bit faster than it has on other EDGE-compatible phones I've tried.
The browser displayed most Web pages with ease, handling JavaScript as well as many (but not all) Flash animations. Both a single-column mode in the standard browser and a WAP-only Web browser offer faster, scaled-down browsing options. An RSS feed reader is also built into the N73, as is a WAP browser and Nokia's LifeBlog software.
A quad-band GSM handset, the N80 supports the 850/900/1800/1900 bands as well as GPRS and EDGE data transfer. The N73 also features support for European 3G networks on the UMTS 2100 MHz band, but is not compatible with 3G networks in the U.S. The phone is suitable for use abroad on T-Mobile and other GSM networks, and comes with a European voltage charger that requires an adapter for use in American households.
Nokia built Bluetooth 2.0 into the N73, and file transfers were roughly twice as fast as they were on the N80 (Bluetooth 1.2). Supported profiles include mono-inly audio devices as well as file transfer, printing, and syncing. I had no trouble pairing the N80 with a mono headset or my computer. The phone features an AC adapter jack as well as a single Pop Port that's used for the included wired hands-free earpiece and USB data cable.
The phone has 42MB of internal memory available for file storage and also features a miniSD slot for expansion via removable memory cards. No memory card is included in the retail package.
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4.7
