The All About Symbian blog has a listing of the most popular QWERTY keypad phones in the market today. Note that this isn’t confined to Nokia phones only — as Symbian is an open platform allowing other phone manufacturers a hand in developing around it. Which is why, in this list, we have a player from LG. I’m sure we’re going to get more QWERTY devices from other manufacturers running S60 as the future comes to present.

So the verdict? In descending order, it seems that the best would be the Nokia E90, a fantastic phone that spelled the “last” of the Communicator line — or is it?? Heh.

Bottom of the list? Surprisingly, Nokia’s new N97! Interesting.

[image c/o author]

Hey this is interesting. The Loudspeaker application basically works like a hands free device but it is really just your Nokia phone that activates on voice commands, allowing you to speak while driving and have your hands free. You can download the app from SymbianGuru.

Key Features:

- Ability to answer the incoming call automatically
- Good and inexpensive alternative to your Bluetooth handsfree
- Activated on certain profiles
- Adjustable sounds on the call start and hang up
- Available for all Series 60.3/60.5 devices
- Translated into: Spanish, French, Italian, Russian and Ukrainian.

Compatible with:
Nokia E50, Nokia E61, Nokia E62, Nokia N71, Nokia N73, Nokia N75, Nokia N80, Nokia N91, Nokia N92, Nokia N93, Nokia N95, Nokia E Series, Nokia E65, Nokia N76, Nokia E61i, Nokia N73 Music Edition, Nokia N77, Nokia E90 Communicator, Nokia 6120 Classic, Nokia 6110 Navigator, Nokia E51, Nokia N81, Nokia 6121 Classic, Nokia N82, Nokia N93i, Nokia 6290, Nokia N95 8GB, Nokia N81 8GB, Nokia N91 8 GB, Nokia N96, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 6220 Classic, Nokia N78, Nokia N79, Nokia N85, Nokia 5320 XpressMusic, Nokia 6650, Nokia E66, Nokia E71, Nokia 6124 Classic, Nokia 5800 MusicExpress, Nokia E63, Nokia N96-3, Nokia N86 8MP, Nokia E55, Nokia E75, Nokia 6710 Navigator, Nokia 5630 XpressMusic, Nokia 5730 Xpress Music, Nokia 6720 Classic, Nokia N97

Due to popular demand, I’ve posted a more detailed show off starring the Navi key of the Nokia N72. Some of the minute differences include:

(1) switching of the Bluetooth and memory card slots, (2) the location of the 3.5mm head phone jack was moved to the top of the device, with the new power button prominently placed on the center. There are also (2) new shortcut keys in the QWERTY thumb pad for the flashlight (we’ve seen this in the E63), instand on Bluetooth and silent mode. A convenient and well thought of addition. Looks like the speaker was also (3) moved behind, beside the camera.

[photos by author]

Today I attended the launch of Nokia Connect 2009 — presented here is the video demo of the E72 where we talk about the new features, the scrolling user interface, the aesthetics, and of course, the comparison with the predecessor, Nokia E71.

Overall, the E72 is a welcome upgrade from the previous year. The E71 was already a kick ass device when it was launched, and it still is to this very day. The most tempting features that may force you to get the E72 would be the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, which made debut with the E63 and the HTML email downloads, allowing you to receive more colorful and formatted email

I was able to review the unit and compare it side by side the Nokia E71. Take a look and decide for yourself, but I’d honestly suggest to wait for it!

Just this morning, Nokia Connection 2009 was opened. For logistics constraints (my laptop battery dying in the middle of the conference) I was able to get two posts up on the keynote speech as well as the Nokia Ovi Store principle.

Chris Carr unveiled the new N97 device as well as three new devices — the Nokia 5530 XpressMusic phone, the Nokia E72, an upgrade to the previous E71, and the 3710 Fold which runs on the S40 platform.

Loren Shuster, Head of Marketing for South East Asia talked more about trends and went in depth with the Ovi store and how it has made an impact on music piracy and developing markets.

There are 1.3 billion users on the Internet. Over 40% of these have mobile Internet access as well. In 2008, the number of mobile Internet users doubled, making the mobile Internet the only way to access the web for developing countries.

it is estimated that by 2012, the number of mobile Internet devices will surpass the total number of desktops that have Internet access. By 2012, there will be over 1 billion people accessing social networking sites via mobile phones. There are 9.3 million individuals using mobile Internet per day. 8.2 million use the mobile Internet for maps.

With some criticism on the store launch, all in all the Nokia Ovi store delivers the promise of a central hub for purchasing applications and building a developer community base. What I found more intriguing was the transparency and quickness of reaction from the Nokia Conversations blog that did admit to some server hiccups. See, corporate blogs work!

[photo taken from Nokia Ovi Store screenshot]

Although Nokia’s Mail on Ovi platform is meant for anyone, the application itself is geared towards developing nations and may go hand in hand with Nokia Life Tools, a product that made debut in India. Mail on Ovi works specificially for S40 phones - entry level phones that can access GPRS or EDGE and brings the ease of use of email to the hands of the masses. In essence, this is an upgrade to the limited logistics of SMS, allowing people to send longer messages.

The document below outlines precisely this:

Ovi Mail Backgrounder_May 2009

[image taken from Bridges PR for Nokia PH]

There’s a promotion currently ongoing in the Philippines where sign ups for Mail on Ovi will get you free Internet time. Sadly, the promotion is only for new Ovi sign ups: from May 15 to June 14, 2009, those who open a new Ovi Mail account in select Netopia internet cafés will get 30 minutes free internet usage at said cafe!

Mail on Ovi can be used by entry level Nokia phones to create and access your email from your mobile phone. According to a recent press conference, Nokia general manager William Hamilton-Whyte said that the Philippines, apart from being the texting capital of the world has the same potential to be the mobile email capital. It is just a matter of educating the masses in the use of mobile email as they can use this as an upgrade to SMS.

Sad news. This June ‘09, S60 is shutting down their word of mouth campaign, the Ambassador Program.

It’s been hardly a year since the Ambassador site launched - and what a journey it has been! Over 21 thousand Ambassadors signed up, we ran 9 campaigns, and heard from you all via nearly 6000 personal accounts you’ve submitted. Such colorful reports they have been too! We can’t thank you enough for all that passion, effort and enthusiasm you have bestowed upon us. Rest assured that every one of those reports have been personally read and responded to by one of us here on the Ambassador team. The insights gained from them have been valuable and they will continue to be used as valuable input in our ongoing product and service development efforts. [more here]

A few weeks back, S60 reported of ambassadors who were proven to have crafted false or plagiarized stories from other community members. Although I’m sure that this isn’t the primary reason for closing down such a good program, the effort needed to maintain such a campaign might be too draining. Which brings me to ask — once 21,000 people start talking about your product, what are the next steps?

[Screencaps c/o S60 Blogs]

If you are a developer and wondering how to get your apps published for the Ovi Store, this short video tutorial will help you and your team manage the process. You need to register at www.publish.ovi.com. It is currently free to register but you will need to be patient with your approval process. The Ovi Store also offers developer support through Forum Nokia.

The revenue share model for the Ovi Store is 70% in favor of the developer. The store will be available starting May 2009. So yeah, if you’re a developer, we suggest applying now.