Symbian in Motion

Dear Nokia, Thank You. Sincerely, SiMo

Today was a pretty important day in the world of S60 and I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss it here on SiMo. Day one of Mobile World Congress has been a HUGE day for Nokia in my eyes. Forget about the services that Nokia announced and forget the specifics with regards to the handsets they previewed today. It was a huge step forward for Nokia simply because they announced two handsets - the 6210 Navigator and the N78 - that would each be released with varying 3G / HSDPA compatibility at the same time. This is the first time that Nokia has ever done this with a high-end HSDPA-compatible S60 handset, let alone two.

In my rant of sorts last month, I plainly stated that I would not be picking up the NAM version of the N95 8GB and I explained why. This is not the first time I’ve expressed my feelings on this matter here or elsewhere, and it may not be the last. My view is that Nokia can release devices in any manner that fits its business model, even if that means releasing a Euro-spec version and then a NAM version at a later time. The problem I’ve had with their strategy of late is that Nokia brings Euro-spec handsets to the US and hocks them knowing perfectly well of course, that a NAM version will follow shortly. This tactic hasn’t been eliminated completely; you’ll notice that only one version of the N96 was announced. As Nokia’s new flagship device, you can be certain that a US HSDPA version will surface this year. I’m certain however, that the Euro-spec version will make its way to my side of the pond long before that official announcement.

But looking at the bright side, two upcoming Nokia handsets will break the disappointing trend that we’ve been seeing from our favorite handset manufacturer in recent history. Oddly perhaps, both handsets replace current models that haven’t had great success in the US compared to other devices (like the N95). The first is the 6210 Navigator which of course replaces the 6110 Navigator.

Nokia will actually be releasing three region-specific versions of this device; HSDPA 900/2100MHz, 850/2100MHz and 850/1900MHz. I won’t get into all of the specs here because you’ve already seen about 50 posts that list them for you. My highlights: The 3.2 megapixel camera and full Nokia Maps navigation access at no additional charge. Why the 3.2 megapixel cam? I like that 3.2 seems to be the new bottom-end for S60 devices, replacing 2.0. Why Nokia Maps? I happen to really like the nav within Nokia Maps but for God’s sake, asking users to pay a monthly fee for navigation in this day and age is preposterous. GPS navigation is now a one-time fee service and it has been for quite some time. If I was in the market for a lower-end S60, this puppy would jump to the top of my list just so that I could ditch Garmin XT and Wayfinder. My lowlights: The 2.5mm audio jack and a 950 mAh battery. The 6210 Navigator will be available in Q3 2008 for $440 / €300.

The second handset is an Nseries through and through. In terms of styling, you’re either going to love it or hate it (especially the funky buttons) but the specs are solid. The N78 has some big shoes to fill; its predecessor, the N73, was and is well-loved by some very loyal owners. So much so in fact, that many still carry the device despite its lack of WiFi and anemic internal memory. I personally think that the N78 will see a good amount of success in certain regions and the US could very well be one of them. My highlights: The 1200 mAh battery and the integrated FM transmitter. Why the battery? 1200 mAh should be the bear minimum for a battery in an S60 handset. Why the FM transmitter? Although I would rarely use it due to audio quality issues, it does make it easy for users to broadcast audio to a wide range of devices quickly and easily. My lowlights: 70 MB of internal memory and the buttons. The N78 will start shipping in Q2 2008 and is priced at $510 / €350.

So once again Nokia, kudos and thanks. There is plenty of business to be had in the US and treating customers right is a good step towards upping your market share. Of course Americans as a general rule are quite superficial, so the next step is to spice up that UI a bit! But that’s a whole different fish that needs to be fried…

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