Nokia E71: Smart Simplicity

The Nokia E71 is most probably one of the hottest Nokia devices in the Bruneian market at the moment, especially with this gorgeous phone always being sold out not long after it being in stock, almost every week.

The most sought after colour of the E71 is the White Steel version, which are even being sold by some vendors at marked up prices despite having the same functionality as the Black Steel version.

With a stainless steel case, etched graphics, the Nokia E71 bears the hallmarks of Nokia quality and craftsmanship.

Designed for people who lead a mobile lifestyle and demand quick and easy access to their personal and work email, the Nokia E71 supports email accounts from more than a thousand internet service providers (ISPs) around the world, as well as Gmail, Yahoo! mail and Hotmail. Additionally, the Nokia E71 supports Nokia's Intellisync Wireless Email solution as well as third party email solutions. A nice touch to the Nokia E71 is a new switch mode that allows people to easily switch between personal and work home screens.
The Nokia E71 also supports the latest Ovi services including maps, music and media sharing that power users expect from their device. This includes fast and seamless browsing with HSDPA (3.5G), wireless LAN and 3G connectivity, Assisted GPS (A-GPS) and Nokia Maps for navigation, and a music player with support of up to 8 GB of expandable memory.

Photo taken with the Nokia E71 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera
(Shooting tip: press on the T button/key to autofocus)

Still unsure if the Nokia E71 is for you? Below are some links to reputable websites which have reviewed the phone in detail;

- Nokia E71 - The Gadget Show Hero
- Nokia E71 review: Messenger of steel
- Nokia E71 It’s Everything and More
- All About Symbian - Nokia E71 review.
- Nokia E71 – Marvel for the Chosen
- Joel on Software Nokia e71 Review

The Nokia E71 is available at Incomm for B$728.00 with further discounts if you use your DST Card. Call 2430801 to check for stock availability.

Nokia 6120 Classic, SE K660 & SE Z770i: Affordable, yet highly recommended 3.5G phones

With the recent launch of DSTCom's new 3G Services, Prima and Easi customers have been able to upgrade their mobile SIM card (for free until 31st August 2008), to enjoy Internet access speeds on their mobiles of up to 7.2 Mbps on their newly upgraded 3.5G (HSDPA) network.

For you to truly make full use of the HSDPA capabilites of this 3.5G network, we here by present to you a line up of some affordable, and highly recommended HSDPA ready mobile phones;

Nokia 6120 Classic


Main features;

• Surf the web and download music and videos quickly over the high speed 3G or HSDPA connection
• Document viewer: Quickoffice and PDF
• Catch all the action on the video recorder
• 2 megapixel camera with flash and panorama imaging
• Make video calls
• 35 MB of internal memory, microSD card slot
• Convenient PC synchronisation via MiniUSB connector

At B$368.00, this phone is a real bargain. Running on the Symbian 9.2, S60 3rd Edition platform, it's very stable, and you can easily add applications like instant messengers, and Skype amongst others. Unsurprisingly for a phone in this price range, it lacks WiFi connectivity. (If Wi-Fi is what you need, then check out the highly recommended Nokia E51 which we reviewed earlier on here). Overall the Nokia 6120 Classic is a joy to use, especially with its no nonsense, and super fast interface.

Sony Ericsson K660


Main features;

• HSDPA enabled
• Web Optimised (Landscape Browsing and Shortcut Keys) for easy surfing
• Google Maps for Mobile
• 2 megapixel camera with instant photo upload to your blogsite
• Walkman Player 3.0
• Video Calls
• 10 hours talk time and 350 hours standby time
• 32MB of internal memory, further expandable through the Memory Stick Micro card slot

If you're a big Sony Ericsson fan, then this phone would tickle your fancy. You'll be able to enjoy landscape browsing when you surf the Internet from this phone. The built-in Google Maps application will allow you to find your way instantly with interactive maps that let you zoom in or out, or pan in any direction to orient yourself. Enter your current location and destination and receive point-to-point directions. The K660 is definitely an all-rounder phone, and at B$368.00, we think it's worth every cent.

Sony Ericsson Z770i


Main features;

• HSDPA enabled
• Picture Blogging
• Google Maps for Mobile
• Walkman Player 3.0
• Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
• Track ID music recognition
• 320x240 pixel 262K TFT QVGA display
• 32MB internal memory and removable external storage with Memory Stick Micro.
• FM Radio with RDS

If the 'candy bar' design of the Sony Ericsson K660 is not your style, then the 'flip phone' design of the Sony Ericsson Z770i could be for you.

The Z770i features lets you browse the Internet with its magnetic mouse pointer, supports RSS feeds, picture blogging and e-mail access using web mail and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. The Z770 also features Google™ Maps for Mobile. At B$388.00, the Z770i is a serious contender which will help you enjoy the full benefit of the HSDPA network.

All phones are available at Incomm with further discounts when you present your DST Card.

Nokia E51: Ready For Business

Introducing the Nokia E51, probably one of the most affordable smartphones in the market, and it doesn't dissappoint either. This classically designed HSDPA (3.5G) handset features high-speed mobile browsing, email, multimedia features, and a multitude of connectivity options.

A small, but highly noticeable feature is Nokia's efficient use of RAM, which makes multitasking and navigating the menus slick and fast, providing instant responses to key presses.



Key features

• Thin design loaded with features to help balance your business and leisure time
  
• Access your email while on the go with support for most leading personal and business email applications
  
• Browse the web and email with high speed 3G, HSDPA, or WLAN connection
  
• Make cheaper cost voice calls over the internet with the built-in Wi-Fi, simply by installing Skype on the phone
  
• 130 MB onboard memory, expandable via microSD cards (up to 4 GB), hot swap
  
• 12 mm slim, elegant design
  
• Listen to the latest hits with FM Visual Radio or play your favorite tunes on the MP3 music player

The phone, however, does have a few setbacks; it features a now less than standard 2.0 megapixel camera with no auto focus and flash, and also buttons on its side which are quite hard to press.

All in all, the affordability of this phone makes up for all its setbacks, as not many phones under $500 are packed with all the E51's features, especially the increasingly-becoming-a-necessity Wi-Fi connectivity.

For more information on the E51, please visit Nokia's Website, or read this excellent review by The Simpur Bloggies nominee SHIMWORLD.



The feature-packed Nokia E51 is available at Incomm for B$498.00, with further discounts when you present your DST Card.

Nokia N95 8GB: The All-In-One Wonder

When Nokia first introduced the first version of the Nokia N95 late last year, they dubbed it a mini-computer as it was simply packed with applications that could not be found on any mobile phone in the market at that time. The price, unsurprisingly, was a little bit too expensive. Users also experienced some setbacks, primarily on the processing side of the phone.

Those problems, however, have been addressed, and now its successor, the N95 8GB, has been packed with twice the processing power. The increased RAM means you can actually feel the fluidity of the speed as you go through the many functions and applications of the phone.

The phone has also been given a slight make-over too; the N95 8GB boasts a beautiful 2.8" widescreen display, which can even be viewable under direct sunlight. The navigational button area has shrunk as a result, but it's still easy to use.

Nokia hasn't seemed to make any noticeable changes to the phone's 5 megapixel camera (with auto focus and Carl Zeiss optics), as it's still one of the best you'll find on a mobile phone. The obvious difference though, is the lens cover.. there isn't one. Therefore, you might have to be a little extra careful and be sure to have it in a case when you're carrying it in your pocket.

In terms of funtionality, the call quality of this phone is unsurprisingly flawless, as you would expect from a high-end Nokia model.

Here's an overview of the key features:

• 2.8" 16M color QVGA display
  
• 5 megapixel camera with auto focus and Carl Zeiss optics
  
• Massive storage capacity and increased RAM
  
• Wi-Fi with UPnP technology
  
• Built-in GPS receiver and A-GPS functionality
  
• Nokia maps application covering over 100 countries worldwide
  
• Dual-slide design with dedicated multimedia keys
  
• Standard 3.5mm audio jack
  
• 3G (with HSDPA), EDGE and GPRS support
  
• Symbian OS 9.2 Series 60 3rd edition Feature Pack 1 user interface
  
• TV-out functionality
  
• 1200 mAh battery

There's one downside in terms of accessories though.. Nokia N95 owners will unfortunately realise that the 8GB version doesn't come with a leather case as it did with the previous model. Nonetheless, we think the features on this phone well makes up for it, making it an upgrade well worth getting.

Photos taken with the 5 megapixel camera (click for actual size)

Overall, we think the Nokia N95 8GB is one of the best feature packed phones in the market at the moment. With its N-Gage capabilities, high-quality camera and media playing controls, the Nokia N95 8GB will surely be the ultimate device to have in your hands today.



The Nokia N95 8GB is available at Incomm for B$1168.00, with further discounts when you present your DST Card.

Nokia 6500 Classic & 6500 Slide: A fusion of form & functionality

Nokia 6500 Classic
You might have seen this TV ad for the new Nokia 6500 Classic. It shows you just how desirable the phone is. The phone's slim, sleek design is eye-catchingly gorgeous, and thanks to Incomm, we were able to try out the phone for a couple of days.

Before we get into the phone's features & details, lets take a quick look at the beautiful curves on the Nokia 6500 Classic..



So is the phone as good as it's hyped up to be? We personally think it is, and we have to say that it surely made an impression on us. We were especially very impressed with the weight of the phone, and believe us when we say that it felt good in our hands! The phone wasn't too heavy or too light, and the weight surely gave it a touch of class, making it seem more expensive than it really is.

Here's an overview of the main key features of the Nokia 6500 Classic:

• Very sleek and slim
• 1 GB of internal memory
• Great 16M color QVGA display
• User friendly & quick interface
• 3G network support
• Rich preloaded content (Opera Mini, Golf Tour, Rally 3D, etc.,)
• Bluetooth with A2DP support

A major set back for some users might be the lack of an additional external media slot, but we personally think that the 1GB storage is good enough for the average user, letting you store more than a hundred of your favorite tunes.

Unfortunately, the phone also lacks an FM Radio, a standard in current phones, and the phone's somewhat 'mediocre' 2.0 megapixel camera would slightly disappoint a few enthusiastic shutterbugs.

Image taken with the Nokia 6500 Classic's 2.0 megapixel camera

Music lovers, however, will surely enjoy the stereo speakers and stereo headsets provided. The crisp sounds are a joy to listen to.

Overall, the Nokia 6500 Classic impressed us with it's sleek, sexy looks, and more importantly, ease of use.

The Nokia 6500 Classic is available at Incomm for B$588.00, with further discounts when you present your DST Card.


Nokia 6500 Slide
If the lack of memory and quality of camera on board the Nokia 6500 Classic is not to your liking, then your other option would be the Nokia 6500 Slide. The slide version boasts:

• a 3.2 MP camera; 2048x1536 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, video(VGA 15fps) and flash.
• a microSD card slot
• an FM radio with RDS
• stainless steel casing
• TV out option

The picture quality of this phone is really impressive and doesn't disappoint. The photo below was taken using the phone's 3.2 Megapixel camera.


The Nokia 6500 Slide's brushed and scratch-resistant stainless steel housing makes it exceptionally gorgeous despite the phone's minimalist design. Its hard to find a fault in this phone, but it would be great if Nokia incorporated wireless (WLAN) capabilities to it. But then again, they'll most probably keep that option strictly for its N & E Series.

The Nokia 6500 Slide is available at Incomm at B$668.00 and comes with a 256MB microSD card. You can get further discounts when you present your your DST Card.

Links:

• Official Nokia 6500 series website
• Nokia 6500 Slide review by GSM Arena
• YouTube videos on the Nokia 6500

Nokia N81 8GB: Music and gaming taken to another level

When the Nokia N80 broke into the market just over a year ago, it was described as the first truly modern world smartphone, due to its adaptability to various ranges of networks and frequencies, which lets the phone be used almost anywhere in the world. The N80 was also the first Nokia N-Series phone to boast a 3.2megapixel camera besides having Wireless (WLAN) connectivity.

Succeeding the N80 is Nokia's latest addition to the N-Series, the Nokia N81. This sleek and polished-looking smartphone comes in two variants; the standard external memory slot version and the whopping 8GB built-in memory version. The 8GB versions are available at all Incomm outlets, and come in black. The Nokia N81 features a Nokia-first touch sensitive navigation control pad, much like the iPod jog-wheel.

Our demo set, courtesy of Incomm, simply blew us away. Holding the set for the first time literally gave us goosebumps! Weight wise, the phone feels almost like its predecessor, but that's where the similarity ends. This gorgeous phone is slightly thinner, and absolutely louder. The speakers (top left & right side) sound simply amazing, and could rival those of the Sony Ericcson Walkman phones.

One of the main features of the N81 is that it's one of the first Nokia smartphones to incorporate the new N-Gage gaming platform, letting you play stunning video games on the go. It's refreshing to know that all future games published for the N-Gage phone will be playable on the N81 too! The pre-installed (demo) games are FIFA 2007, Asphalt 3: Street Rules, and Space Impact Light.



Now we're not much experts in mobile gaming, but we must say that the sound and graphics of the games on this phone simply took our breath away. Its almost like holding a mini Sony PSP in your hands, but instead this one can make calls and send text messages too! Quite a good list of game titles will be available soon, all of which will put the huge 8GB of built-in memory to good use.



Overall, the Nokia N81 is just simply a joy to have and without doubt, fun to use. Here's an overview of some the phone's technical specifications:

- Network : UMTS / GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
- 3G 384 kbps
- WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g with UPnP
- Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
- USB v2.0 microUSB
- OS Symbian OS 9.2, Series 60 v3.1 UI
- SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
- Java MIDP 2.0
- MP3/AAC/MPEG4 player
- Rotating gallery with Navi wheel
- Stereo FM Radio
- T9
- Push to talk
- Voice dial/memo
- PIM including calendar, to-do list
- 3.5 mm audio output jack
- Built-in handsfree
- Battery Stand-by Up to 410 h
- Talk time Up to 4 h

The feature-packed Nokia N81 8GB is available at Incomm for $898, with further discounts when you present your DST Card. For more information on the phone, please visit Nokia's N81 Website.

Nokia E90 Communicator: The legacy lives on

The 10-year old Nokia Communicator legacy lives on to this very day with the release of the eleventh in the series, the E90 Communicator.

The smart phone, which now comes in mocha-brown or maroonish-red, still sports its iconic side-folding design with QWERTY keyboard, but this time it can be folded open to a full 180 degrees.

Slightly smaller in size than its predecessor, the E90 now runs on a Series 60 (S60) platform, dropping the dated S80, making it compatible with a vast array of software titles available. The S60 on this phone is tweaked and optimised for the phone's wide 800 x 352 pixel inner display, making everything look good and easy to access.

The E90 now boasts 3G connectivity and is HSDPA enabled, giving you high-speed Internet access and video calls. You can also talk anywhere in the world with the phone's GSM quad-band 850/900/1800/1900) and WCDMA 2100 support.

Other notable features include integrated GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g WLAN, 140MB of internal flash memory, and 80MB of RAM, 4 times more than that of other S60 smart phones.

The E90 also packs a respectable 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and autofocus and VGA video recording.

All in all, the latest in Nokia Communicator series really does impress, boasting quite a significant upgrade from its predecessor. It really is a must buy for the avid Communicator fans in Brunei, especially for those who demand performance when working on the move.

A brief look at the Nokia E90 Communicator

The Nokia E90 Communicator is available at Incomm for $1,488 (further discounts with a DST Card) and comes with a 512MB Micro SD Card and pouch. For more information, please call 2420122.

This performance inspired smart phone is also available online at the QQeStore, with the absolute lowest price in Brunei guaranteed!* For more information on its current price, please click here.