Hands-on with the Nokia C3, C6 and E5
We got some hands-on time with the recently announced Nokia C3, C6 and E5 at Nokia's office. Also, a quick peek into the Microsoft Communicator Mobile, a collaboration between Nokia and Microsoft to unify communication channels in a corporate environment.
A Quick Look at the New C and E Series
Nokia has had an uneventful first half in 2010. For those who are looking out for new devices from the Finnish outfit, you should be expecting up to four new devices in the coming months. This includes the Nokia C3, an entry level device that runs on the Symbian S40 platform, and the mid-range Nokia C6, utilizing the Symbian S60 version 5 touchscreen platform. Hold off till the third quarter of 2010, and you'll get your hands on the new Nokia E5 or maybe, the 12-megapixel, 720p video-recording capable flagship model, the Nokia N8 and its Symbian^3 OS.
For now, here's a quick hands-on experience of the first three mentioned devices, starting with the Nokia C3. Though positioned as an entry level model with basic 2.5G and Wi-Fi connectivity, this S40 device doesn't pass off as an inexpensive product. The QWERTY-based phone (a first for the S40 platform, according to Nokia) comes with a glossy sheen and a curved design that gives it a more sophisticated look than it should. On screen, the C3's interface will look somewhat similar to the S60's layout. What sets the C3 apart is the use of the Nokia Communities app, which will aggregate your Facebook and Twitter feeds together.
The Nokia C3 will be available by Q2 2010, tagged at a pricing of 180 euros (excluding local taxes and subsidies).
The Nokia C3 might be positioned as a low-cost model, but it has the sophisticated look of the Nokia E72.
A clear evidence of its position in the market would be a 2-megapixel camera.
Next up, the Nokia C6. Bearing a strong resemblance to the Nokia N97 and N97 mini, the C6 also comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Not much has changed in form factor, though Nokia has mentioned that with the C6, the S60 version 5 interface gets some slight upgrades. This includes multiple pages for you to park the widgets within. Similar to the C3, the C6 keeps its focus on social networking. Nokia Communities is also available on the C6, though a widget built in the fashion of the Facebook widget will be coming soon on the S60 version 5 platform.
The Nokia C6 is also available by Q2 2010, priced at 220 euros before subsidy and local taxes.
The Nokia C6 shares a similar form factor to the Nokia N97 and N97 mini, right down to the QWERTY keyboard. Available colors for the C6 includes black and white.
The last of today's lineup introduction is the Nokia E5. As mentioned, the E5 won't be the direct successor to the Nokia E72. As such, it acts as a 'buffer device' till first quarter of 2011 when the actual successor will be revealed. But that's not to say that the E5 doesn't have its selling points. Bundled with a lifetime license for Nokia Messaging (also available on its earlier E-series device), the E5 will also be equipped with Microsoft Communicator Mobile. We'll leave a brief introduction of this new application in the following page.
The Nokia E5 is slated for a Q3 2010 release, at 180 euros before taxes and subsidy.
Look closely, and you might notice that the Nokia E5 has a striking resemblance to the Palm Centro.
A Forged Relationship Between Nokia and Microsoft
2010 is also a year of partnerships for Nokia. During Mobile World Congress, it made its major announcement of the upcoming Meego platform, a collaboration between Nokia's Maemo OS and Intel's Moblin platform into a new mobile ecosystem. Even before, Nokia had a vested interest with Microsoft, in the form of its Mail for Exchange service that allows Nokia devices to hook up to Microsoft Exchange Activesync protocols.
And now, we have the Microsoft Communicator Mobile, and as its name implies, is a communication tool that mirrors Nokia's earlier Nokia Messaging app. While the latter is aimed at the consumer level with its instant messaging and push email offering, the Communicator Mobile app looks towards the corporate world. In essence, the application taps onto the company's existing Microsoft Office Communications Server, allowing you to have a seamless mobile and PC experience for instant messaging and mail experience. Further to that, contact integration is present within Communicator Mobile, bringing together calls, messaging (both text and internet) and emails for all folks in your contacts database. During the presentation, Nokia has also indicated that the app will be pushed onto the upcoming Intel and Nokia platform, Meego. However, the transition from Symbian to Meego for the Communicator Mobile app hasn't been put into stone, and from Nokia's estimate, the app will be ready for the new Meego OS by 2011.
As of now, Communicator Mobile has been announced to be available for the Nokia E72 and Nokia E52. Forward-looking, this app will be available on its future E-series device, including the upcoming Nokia E5.
Call, message or even email to your colleagues with ease on the Microsoft Communicator Mobile app.
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