Nokia E61
 

Has anyone purchased and used the E61 from Nokia? I am interested in this phone given my disappointment with the SE P990 (no EDGE, no 850ghz) and its much higher price than the Nokia. Being a quad-band phone, I should be able to pop-in a Cingular SIM and be on my way.

From the photos, it looks like the Nokia is significantly smaller than a Treo, and even abit smaller than a Blackberry

I am more interested in its consumer-friendly features rather than business features - such as playing music, watching video content, messaging and web browsing. I didn't see any mention of a camera on the website, though...if this phone has no camera, then I guess it's back to considering a used SE P910A.

I have never been so frustrated than trying to pick a new phone. Choosing a laptop was cakewalk compared to picking something as dumb as a cell phone these days.

I have been using this new Nokia E61 for 3 weeks now. My recommendation: BUY IT! Reasons: JavaScripts, Cookies. Much better than WM5 in accessing the Internet. I am a software developer in mobile and Internet applications. I hold off buying a poket PC with WM5 because it cannot execute the Javascripts. , the most important thing in Internet access to the Internet server database. Example: I did used the E61 to book regular and award tickets in United.bom, including selecting seat assignments, exactly like the regular PC access. (what more can one ask for?)

Other not than important advantages: 3G for Japan and Korea roaming, Wi-Fi in 8011g, Word and Excel inputting, easy for email access, very nice screen format, good construction (my daughter just throw this E61 to the stone ground last night out of frustration, and only a few scratch, what a relief!)

Bad points: no camera, that means no video call in 3G area.

I was considering buying Treo, Dopod, Backberry, HP, but none of them fulfill my requirements. I need a 3G, Wi-Fi, Javascript with cookies, full Word and Excel. This E61 fulfills all my requirements. I hope the information help the OP.

Test driving one...hope they let me keep it (especially now the Goodlink client is available). :)

The E61 is slightly wider than a Treo, the same length (excluding the Treo's protuding aerial), about 2/3 the thickness, and significantly lighter.

The lack of camera is of no concern to me...

Love it
 

I've used an E61 over the summer in both the US and Europe, and I can honestly say I love it. I switched from an N90, so definately took a hit in the imaging capability (2MP vs no camera), but the fact that the E61 gets really good battery life (I run mine in GSM-only mode), has a very capable web browser, works great for e-mail and can act as a light iPod replacement in some cases (stereo headset + 1GB mini-SD) made it worth switching to.

Oh, and the mobile version of Google Maps works nicely with this, saved me a couple of times... :D

How does the E61 compare with the Moto Q in terms of size?

Thanks for your advise, everyone. I am interested in the unit, but I gave it more thought and had two concerns...the lack of camera is going to be an issue and if it's bigger than a Treo 700, that might be a problem too, since I am avoiding the Treo due to its size. The unit seems geared towards the business market, and I am looking for something more balanced between productivity and consumer friendly.

I guess if I could get my hands on one and have a closer look, it might change my mind, but I can't find any retailers that carry it :( Seems to be an 'import-only' unit you buy unlocked.

I wish Sony Ericsson had the W800i in an 'A' model with 850ghz :( They seemed to have abandoned the US market - all their good phones go to Europe and Asia and the crap carriers give away for free is sent here. All they had to do was make their phones quadband with US supported UMTS and they would work anywhere.

I bought one about a month ago.... I have to say the phone is pretty amazing and the software is very strong and fast. Also, if you are in Dubai, you can pick up one for around $250 unlocked, factory direct. Good Luck...

Regards,

Billman

a favour pls..
 

Thanks for the info; was thinking of E61 or the new HTC phones a la TyTn or Qtek S200, any ideas on pricing for the latter 2 phones ^ ? I can perhaps get it shipped if the price is right..

Many thanks,

a.

I've always avoided these HTC units because there is no easy way to just use them as a plain old phone - it's a big complicated deal to just dial a number, given there is no easily accessed numberpad. I've read alot of complaints about this on different forums.

Also, the Microsoft OS is a deal killer for me. If it had an easy dial option and Symbian, then I might look more closely...

you can't use skype on this right? otherwise it looks great. i'm looking for all these features plus skype use when on wifi.

e61 has a interent telephone option, skype, I am not sure, but it does have wifi, which works very well. As for the 2 phones above, I have also heard bad things on them, not sure on the prices.

ohh...
 

ohh, ok, thanks for the info..

ad..

*perks up* ooh, where from?

I have friends in Dubai over the summer, and I'd been contemplating getting this phone to replace my old P800.

Ok so I have had my E61 for about 3 weeks now and find it frustrating as all hell.

It was bought from the U.S., they sourced the phone in Hong Kong and it is pre-loaded with Planet 3 stuff!

The firmware says it is the latest version. When I try to use the nokia software updater, it says nothing to update. A hard reset on the phone did not get rid of the Planet 3 stuff.

If I flash the phone using Phoenix (& crack) and then install the firmware will that get rid of the junk and put the phone into a normal state? Since the model is not officially sold in Canada, Nokia is not interested in helping.

Any ideas?

The E61 is very much a business tool and does actually look quite good in this respect. The only thing that has stopped me going out and buying one (they are available to buy SIM free quite inexpensively here in the UK) is that I've not seen a single report of one of these phones being used successfully with BWC.

The P910 is a none starter for me. SE have gone from having one of the best smart phones with the best UI on the market to having a buggy smart phone with a UI designed by a committee and a smaller screen (albeit with the same resolution, I believe).

Oh well, I continue to look for the smart phone/PDA that does everything (Blackberry, good PDA, good imaging and video recording etc).

From early next year, I suspect I will be carrying around a combination of an N95 and a Blackberry (plus my iPAQ).

I just talked to my friend at SFO yesterday. He tried my E61 and like it, at least for the weight. He said he put his SE 910 in the closet. He used to have the SE 900. The SE 910 is heavy, and not much functions to talk about.

I have been using the e61 now for a few days. Lots of great features but not a very easy setup.

I have been able to get the SIP client on the phone to connect with my office VOIP pbx which is great. This will really help with roaming costs in the future.

I have 2 problems that I looking for some help on:

1) General Nokia question - On my current phone I have a profile setup up that once selected it call forwards the phone to my direct office line. I use voice commands to select that profile. So I walk into my office and push a button on my phone and say "office" and I'm done. What is the best way to accomplish the same thing in the Nokia world.

2) Using Wifi to check email etc. is great. But is there a better way than having to change the email settings to a new access point each time you are using a new hotspot? Since I have to change the access point in both the incoming and outgoing email settings it really does slow down the process.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Can you please explain how you did that? I would love to have that set up myself.

This can be done in one of 2 ways that I know of.

I use my own domain and with their email service, I have all my email run through their smtp/pop servers instead of my ISP. When I connect from other than at home, it looks for my domain mail server, ignoring the ISP and seems to work quite well.

Another way is to run your mail through gmail using their pop/remote access options. You will then send and receive via gmail, not the hotspot. Again this has worked for me, for my "secondary" accounts.

btw, I reflashed my E61 and got rid of the Planet 3 crap. Damn this smartphone is so very nice :D

Acronym alert. What is BWC? Nothing to do with biological weapons I hope? :D

How do people feel about typing emails on the E61? Difficult?

I LOVE my E61. You can use the "Access Point Groups" function to make it work through a list of user selected access points till it finds one that works. This way, mine uses my wifi when at home, and packet data when out and about...

Blackberry Web Client. It's the service for those who don't have/can't get BES and don't want to run Redirector and rely on Outlook staying up (or want to have BB access to accounts not tied to a BES server).

Thanks for the acronym breakout. I'm not a Crackberry addict so can't I forward my Exchange mail to gmail and deal with it easier on the E61?

I have lots of colleagues who use Outlook on their Treo's. Wouldn't that work the same with the E61?

Sorry for the beginner questions, but I've always avoided PDA's in the past. However now that they come with email, keyboard, GPRS, 3G, VoIP and WiFi, I may not be able to resist too much longer.

Suggestion:

1. Set up a contact called "Office Divert" and enter the diversion code eg *21XXXX# as the number
2. Assign it a voice command called "Office" or "Divert"

You then press and hold the green "Send" key (bottom left of the large keys), the 'phone will make a series of ascending beeps, and you then state the voice command.

A month with the Nokia E61
 

Hi fellow TTers,

I was asked to be a 'test pilot' for the E61, as a potential firm-wide replacement or alternative to the Treos.

• Battery life - superb. Much better than a Treo.
• It's a Nokia - intuitive menus, we've all used them before and know they just *work*
• Stable as a rock (one caveat being Goodlink see more below)
• Great screen
• No aerial "knob" - thinner, lighter but wider than Treo
• Keyboard is mostly intuitive - much better than i-mate and somewhat better than Treo (Treo still good though)
• RF is (by a country mile) better than Treo or i-mate
• It's a Nokia - the 'phone works really well as a voice device and that's important in the real world
• Navigation is via joystick - initially feels a bit clumsy but I now can use it with one hand

Issues - relate to Goodlink:

Goodlink works well, but is a little bit "buggy" - it occasionally cancels a menu option eg "Compose SMS" from the contacts list and you have to repeat the command. Also, the Nokia voice enhancements (Speed dialling, voice dialling etc) aren't integrated by Goodlink contacts - ie only Nokia contacts can be used for enhanced features, not Goodlink contacts. This is where the Treo beats the Nokia, as Goodlink is better integrated into the Palm OS.

All in all, very happy to recommend it.

VOIP & SIP are not easy to setup. The best way to start is to use truphone.com.

You send them a txt message and they send you back message with all the setup information and it installs by itself. Pretty cool and free calls in NA until Dec 31st.

I have been doing that minus the voice command. The voice command on the e61 is the synthesizer voice thing. Can I turn that off and just record a voice tag like I did on my old phone?

I haven't tried it on the Nokia, but setting up SIP/VoIP on any other WiFi/SIP phone is quite easy. You just need the coordinates of the SIP proxy server and enter that into the phone.

I purchased one in DXB 6 months ago for $100 more than that and I shopped. I'm interested in a second one for my wife. Where did you get it. I am in Dubai.

E62?
 

I'm on the Nokia site right now and see the E62. Anyone know why/if this might be an upgrade from the E61?

Also, I don't see a place online to see what languages are supported. Any chance Russian might be one?

I'm close...very close...to taking the plunge...

It's by no means an upgrade! It's a downgrade! The E62 is Cingular specific. No WiFi. No 3G. Only benefit is a miniUSB connector on the bottom so you don't need the Nokia special cable but that ALSO means no pop-port accessories.

NOOOOO! :)

The E62 is a downgrade. For the NA market they took out wifi and the voip sip client. Only buy the e61

So, I listened to you lot and picked up an E61 this afternoon. What a POS. Keyboard is terrible, it is slow and the amount of third party software for it is dismal.

Activesync doesn't support folders. Doesn't support syncing with my carkit, doesn't show signal/battery on my carkit (even my TyTN can do that). The browser is crap (just entering a URL is a 10 step project). I always thought the Windows Mobile browser sucked, but this thing takes 30 seconds even before anything starts loading... The UI has no consistency to it.

That said; form factor is decent, the screen is nice and RF could be worse. But I really can't understand why everyone goes gaga over this thing.

I'll give it a few more days, but I can't say I'm impressed at all.

Is there any way to use Skype with the E61?

Nope. WindowsMobile only. It was meant to be available months ago, but nothing has been heard of it since.

I put truphone on my E61 and it works great. ^

I just bought a used E61 via eBay. Is there a way to change the lock code on the phone?

Can't argue on the 3rd party issue. What pisses me off is that there's SO MUCH Symbian stuff out there, yet Nokia have driven away most of the community with their app signature issues. The rest? Spoken like a man who doesn't do much voice. *DUCKING*

Stupid phone only wants to pair to my carkit as a headset, there is no way to tell it I want it to pair as a handsfree system.

The "no folders" problem with activesync is pathetic, they claim activesync support but don't mention that little issue.

Played with the browser some more. It is terrible. Terrible I tell you...

You are correct that I don't do much voice, but this is a business phone, so it should be excellent in email and voice.

It's a nice cheap smartphone, probably even cheaper than the Dash, but I'm happier with my fullblown WM5 device. It is faster, more flexible and suits my needs much better.

It's already back in the box :)

Do you mean it is locked to a carrier or it is branded? (i.e. Planet 3 from HK).

Different issues - if it is branded, I can tell you how to unbrand it and restore it. If it is locked, it is a bit more difficult.

Oh yeah, if you just mean the 4 - 6 digit lock code, flashing the firmware usually works and resets it back to the default of 12345.

Check Howard Forums, gsm forums and e-series.org for details on how to do all of the above.

Regarding Symbian, they just sold off UIQ to Sony Ericsson to off-load the UI business from Symbian. We'll see if that helps. BTW, Symbian recently passed the 100 million mark for smart phones.

My problem with the Symbian marketshare stats is that the vast majority of the users of an S60 phone don't use it, or purchase it as a smartphone. It just happens to be the OS of the cute phone they buy. When someone shops for a Palm smartphone or WM smartphone they specifically pick a device that they will use as a smartphone, not just a cute music/camera device.