Hands-on with Nokia's slim E71 smartphone

When I think of Nokia handsets, "slim" usually isn't the first word that comes to mind. But the E71 smartphone is just that—indeed, it's svelte enough to slip into a jeans pocket, and it's packed with features to boot. Too bad about the hefty price tag.

The Nokia E71 has been available here in the States for several weeks now, and it's an update of the older, much bulkier E61; you might also remember the E62 (which I reviewed nearly two years ago), a close cousin designed for U.S. cell networks and once available on AT&T.

Take a look at the Wi-Fi-enabled E71 and you'll notice two key changes from the E62: One, the E71 taps into speedy U.S. HSDPA networks (one version of the E71 works with AT&T's HSDPA network, while another supports T-Mobile's just-launched HSDPA service), whereas the E62 is an EDGE-only handset; and two, the E71 is just 0.4 inches deep, compared to the bulky, 0.55 inch-thick E62. The E71 also replaces the E62's plastic case with a gorgeous, eye-catching steel shell.

Nokia's E-series phones are more business-oriented than the multimedia-focused N handsets, such as the N95. Indeed, productivity is front-and-center on the N71, complete with Office document reading and editing via QuickOffice, as well as full-on Microsoft Exchange, POP, IMAP, and push e-mail support (via Nokia's Intellisync service).

Then there's Nokia's Web browser, which (in my book, at least) is second only to Safari on the iPhone, although it has one key advantage over Safari—its support for Flash Lite.

Also on tap: Internet telephony via the downloadable Gizmo app, and remote access to your desktop files courtesy of Files on Ovi (Ovi being Nokia's suite of online productivity and multimedia services).

Ready for some fun? The E71 also comes with its fair share of multimedia apps. No N-Gage gaming (this is a business-oriented phone, after all), but you do get a 3.2-megapixel camera (not bad), QVGA video recording, a solid music player, an FM radio, and the mobile version of RealPlayer for videos. And don't forget GPS, along with the Nokia Maps application and true turn-by-turn directions.

One clever feature I loved: A "Switch mode" control that lets you switch between customizable "business" and "personal" home screens (one with, for example, your messages and agenda, the other with one-click access to the media player).

The E71's 320 by 320-pixel display looked pretty sharp to my eyes, although the 2.5-inch screen is a little small for full-page Web browsing. I also liked the phone's roomy QWERTY keypad and domed keys for easy tapping.

Other notable features: Bluetooth, microSD memory expansion, 110MB of internal memory, a PDF reader, and a podcast application that lets you download new episodes over the air.

Overall, the E71 is a pretty sweet package for business users looking for a Symbian-powered smartphone, but in terms of availability, there's good news and bad news. Good news first: You can get the E71 unlocked—no need for a new carrier contract. The bad news: No carrier subsidies, meaning that the E71 costs about $500 or so (maybe less depending on how hard you look online). That said, there are rumors that the E71 might be headed for AT&T, so a subsidized version could be on the horizon.