Nokia Ups Ante Against BlackBerry With New Smartphones

Nokia Monday introduced two new enterprise phones in its fight against the BlackBerry for dominance in the smartphone arena.

Nokia is updating its E-series product line with the E71 and E66, its latest e-mail optimized enterprise devices.

The Nokia E71 features a full QWERTY keyboard packed into a stainless steel case, available in either grey steel or white steel. It boasts a 2.36-inch color display and is designed for either one-handed or two-handed use, Nokia said in a statement.

Quick Clicks: Nokia's New Smartphones

The Nokia E66 features a slide-to-open design that includes stainless steel accents and is also available in grey steel or white steel. While both devices offer key features such as enhanced calendar, contacts and customizable home screen modes, the E66 also adds an orientation sensor that automatically optimizes itself for full-screen viewing or silences the ringer when the device is turned over, according to the statement.

The Nokia E71 and E66 both support a number of e-mail programs and services, including Microsoft Exchange, Google Gmail, Yahoo Mail and Hotmail. They also support Nokia's Intellisync Wireless Email solution as well as third-party e-mail solutions such as System Seven and Visto Mobile, the company said.

The smartphones are expected to begin shipping in July and support other enterprise features such as built-in encryption functionality for device memory and for the memory card. Entertainment features include a music player with support for up to 8 GB expandable memory and a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera.

They also support 3G, wireless LAN and HSDPA networks.

Nokia commands a dominant lead in the global smartphone market. In the first quarter of 2008, Nokia, Espoo, Finland, sold 14.6 million units, grabbing 45.2 percent of the worldwide market, according to recent research from Gartner. Waterloo, Ontario-based Research in Motion, maker of BlackBerry, sits at No. 2, selling 4.3 million units to grab 13.4 percent of the market, while Apple, Cupertino, Calif., is the No. 3 vendor of smartphones, selling 1.7 million units worldwide to grab a 5.3 percent share of the market on the popularity of its iPhone, Gartner said.

Globally, buyers snapped up 32.2 million smartphones in the first quarter, an increase of 29.3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2007. In North America, unit sales more than doubled to 7.3 million.

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