Nokia E63: A call to business

QWERTY.

Yes, that is where it’s at for cellphones today.

I was in another one of my cellphone window-shopping moods recently so I took a trip to my favorite cellphone haunts.

“Uso ngayon ang QWERTY,” said my ever-reliable sales person. “Halos lahat ng benta namin recently, QWERTY.”

The reason for the trend is that many more Pinoys are beginning to see the advantage of a bigger keypad and screen, too.

Blame it on the move of most cellphone companies to make the devices all in one. Gone are the days when all a cellphone could do was call and text. Nowadays, it’s old and perhaps even lame, to have a cellphone that can’t at least keep you in sync with YM. Most cellphones can get e-mail, and there are many more that make surfing the Net a joy.

Of course, we also have the telcos to thank for this. After all, it is they that have made connecting so much easier and also light-speed faster.

“Tita Kathy, I need a cellphone that can get my e-mail, keep me updated with Facebook and browse, too, should I need to,” said Enrique, my 20-year-old, college senior nephew. “I have such a busy life that I need to keep in touch all the time no matter where I am.”

Kids.

And, let me add that I was recently at a family gathering. Yup, I do attend these events when I really have to. And, yes, most of the young ones there had the bulkier looking cellphone. Yes, the one with QWERTY keypad.

So, as I cased the joints in my favorite cellphone shopping place I noticed the new Nokia E63. I found out that it is the latest addition to the Eseries range.

I got a good look at one and a free trial, too. I spent quite a lot of time getting in sync with the Nokia E63.

For starters, let me say that I liked the cellphone at first sight. I noticed how the phone is a little wider than the Nokia E71, but not as wide as some of the other smartphones.

The Nokia E71 is one of my fave Nokia cellphones recently. The only thing that perhaps is the flaw of the E71 is the small keypad.

I guess, building on the success of the Nokia E71, the company’s flagship messaging device, the Nokia E63 brings the QWERTY keyboard form factor to a bigger audience, perhaps also to those who like a little more finger space when they tap the keys, too.

“Our research shows that people want a device that deals with both their personal and professional lives, but helps them to separate the two. When someone sits down at lunch, they want to update their social network or browse their personal e-mail account and they don’t want work getting in the way of that. It’s another great case of technology adapting to the people that use it,” says William Hamilton-Whyte, general manager of Nokia Philippines. “The Nokia E63 is a new proposition for Eseries — a messaging device where people will be just as involved in their social network as they are in their business network.”

And how.

And then there is the color factor. Name one person today who wants to do business minus the eye candy.

No one.

The Nokia E63 comes in red and blue. I like both. Color adds to personality and as far as I am concerned it also adds to the joy of using the cellphone factor.

While appealing to a new group of consumers with a design that feels great in the hand, the Nokia E63 is still very much a member of the Eseries family. 

Whyte adds, “People use the Eseries to access their corporate mail, review their calendar and work in their business network, so the Nokia E63 still includes Wi-Fi connectivity, easy access to Mail for Exchange and dedicated key access to contacts, calendar and e-mail.”

Take a closer look

The Nokia E63 can switch modes with a single key press, switching from a view of corporate mail, appointments and intranet data, to a personal mode with pictures of friends, personal e-mail and shortcuts to favorite hobby blogs or websites.

Whyte says, “The amazing response we have seen to the Nokia E71, which has very quickly become the best selling model in its category, lets us know that we are heading in the right direction. People want a rich experience when using messaging, social networks and the Internet. With the Nokia E63 you can enjoy the Web, update your status and work meaningfully with multiple e-mail accounts.”

The Nokia E63 runs on Symbian OS 9.2 S60 version 3.2.

The Finnish company has come out with another winner in the E63. With the holidays already here, Nokia seems to want to be part of the smartphone segment with lots of options available for more cellphone-crazy Pinoys like me.

Nokia always has several cellphone options to choose from in each segment of the cellphone market. It seems that the winning formula of the Finnish company is to make as many choices as there are users. It is because of this that it continues to stay on top of the cellphone game.

The standard features of the Eseries cellphones are what the E63 has. It offers 3G, GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, A2DP Bluetooth and infrared as connectivity options. A standard 2MP camera with Flash and sleeker design makes it ideal. 

Size matters

The phone measures 113 x 59 x 13 mm, making it shorter by 1 mm, 2 mm wider and thinner by 3 mm compared to its E71 brother. It weighs less than two grams.

The Nokia E63 also includes Files on Ovi, a service where people can get remote access to their PC files even when their computer is offline. Those who purchase the phone will be pleased to know that it comes with a 365-day subscription to Files on Ovi. 

You can record and view images and videos with the digital camera and bright landscape display, listen to music downloaded from a number of other sources, via the standard 3.5-mm audio jack or customize the device through the thousands of applications available for download.

The standards that Nokia is known for are readily present in the E63. Texting, sending MMS, updating music and keeping the contacts updated are one-key touch away. 

As is the case with Nokia, if the system isn’t broke why change it? But with the E63, Nokia has put a few nice touches, making the cellphone one to be desired from Santa.

And for the younger folk out there, whose busy lives need them to be connected 24/7, why not give the P14,200 Nokia E63 a spin. It would be a perfect fit for students.

Mom, Dad and Santa, too, if you want to give your student kid a cellphone, the E63 is a good buy. And, they will love you for it.

I wish…