Oct 10 2005
Nokia, Blackberry Killer ??
Nokia joined the swelling ranks of would-be BlackBerry killers on Wednesday, unveiling its first keyboard phone with a similar look and feel of the e-mail device made by Research In Motion (RIM).
The Nokia E61, due out in 2006, follows the introduction of non-“clamshell” devices from Hewlett-Packard and otorola that also feature a typewriter keypad for thumb tapping.
The look and feel was first popularised by the BlackBerry from RIM and then also by Treo from Palm.
This one, however, would be the first based on Symbian, the most widely used operating system for advanced
wireless phones, largely due to Nokia’s growing commitment to the platform in its product line-up.
Unlike the BlackBerry, the new Nokia device will be compatible with multiple e-mail platforms, including BlackBerry Connect and Nokia Business Centre.
The Nokia E61 device was introduced along with two other new phones, the E60 and the E70, both of which are also designed to handle business e-mail as well as having walkie-talkie capabilities. They even have the so-called push-to-talk feature that is becoming standard on high-end mobile phones.
The E series phones are built on the latest edition of Nokia’s Series 60 Symbian platform and will include a variety of GSM frequencies and third-generation, or 3G,
eatures for seamless roaming in different countries.
The phones are expected to be priced at between $420 (Rs 18,790 approx) and $540 (Rs 24,159 approx), excluding subsidies and taxes, Nokia said.
Based in Espoo just outside the Finnish capital, Nokia has sales in 130 countries and about 55,500 employees.
From: Mumbai Mirror.