MWC 09: Nokia brings two new form factors to the Eseries with E75 and E55

Nokia made a few device announcements today at Mobile World Congress, including the Nokia E75, E55, 6710 Navigator and 6720 Classic. The Nokia E75 and E55 build on the Eseries, enterprise-focused, with a new form factor in one and improved features in both. Nokia is well know for their GPS functionality with Nokia Maps and devices focused on navigation. At Mobile World Congress today, Nokia announced the Nokia 6710 Navigator and 6720 Classic.

I love my Nokia E71 (see my review) and will be taking a serious look at the E75 because I want a Nokia device with a full QWERTY keyboard. The E75 comes in a form factor seen before in the Windows Mobile world (HTC Vox and S743) where the device appears just like a standard mobile phone with a display and keypad on the front. You then slide the display up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard as the display shifts into landscape mode. Nokia Messaging is included on the E75 and gives users access to Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes servers.

The Nokia E55 includes what I have been asking about and that is a Nokia with a SureType keyboard where two characters are assigned to each button. This gives you a chance to have a more compact device with a QWERTY keyboard and the E55 looks like a very attractive option to me as well. The E55 also provides great battery life with up to 28 days of standby time.

Both the E75 AND E55 include Nokia Maps and GPS. The Nokia E75 is expected to ship in March at an estimated retail price of 375 EUR, before taxes and subsidies. The Nokia E55 is expected to ship in the second quarter at an estimated retail price will be 265 EUR, before taxes and subsidies.

The 6710 Navigator includes Nokia Maps 3.0, dedicated GPS button, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED flash in a slim compact form factor. The Nokia 6720 improves on their classic candybar form factor with improved voice quality through active noise cancellation. The Nokia 6720 classic is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2009 at an estimated retail price of 245 EUR before taxes and subsidies. The Nokia 6710 Navigator will join in the third quarter with an estimated retail price of 300 EUR, before taxes and subsidies.