We
can't remember the last time anything Siemens did in the cellphone biz excited us — especially since the company
doesn't even make cellphones anymore; they
sold their cell
business to BenQ, which has retained the right to produce phones under the Siemens name for a limited time. But the
Siemens brand still has at least some life left in it, as shown by a handful of new models coming out this month,
including the E71 (pictured), a thin slider that includes a 2-inch QVGA LCD display, Bluetooth, MP3 and GPRS/EDGE for
data. Other models include the Hermes C5, an otherwise nondescript clamshell that has some new branding: it's being
sold under the BenQ-Siemens marque. Sounds to us like the beginning of the phase-out for the Siemens cellphone brand.
And, yes, we're stifling a yawn here.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rasmus @ Jan 2nd 2006 4:27PM
Am I the only who thinks that Siemens is totally copying Nokias designs??
Carlos @ Jan 2nd 2006 5:07PM
Rasmus, I was thinking the exact same thing.
It looks like a non-rounded Nokia 6111...
http://www.nokia.co.uk/nokia/0,,76564,00.html
Jvijil @ Jan 2nd 2006 5:11PM
Can you say N80 knockoff???
(Except without the 3 megapixel camera!)
Ziraba @ Jan 2nd 2006 5:52PM
All these companies keep copying themselves. I love Siemens.
anonymous @ Jan 2nd 2006 6:01PM
The design is from Nokia 6270/80 and the name is from Nokia E60/61/70/71 or which ever they were. You can see a small Asian manufacturer has jumped in! Start those copy machines...
Donald @ Jan 2nd 2006 8:03PM
"Am I the only who thinks that Siemens is totally copying Nokias designs??"
Wouldn't suprise me, considering BenQ already makes some of the Nokia lineup (most notably, the 610x series of flip phones).
Will @ Jan 3rd 2006 1:47AM
I think all companies copy each other in terms of the design. Siemens were good phones and suited the budget market well for a while. Sad to see them go.
Dr Doom @ Jan 3rd 2006 4:26AM
I agree with #7 in that i'm sad to see Siemens "go" too. I was a loyal follower for around 5 years until the UK networks decided to stop stocking them :-(
I don't think people should be writing them off quite yet though - they have a cool GPS phone in the shape of the SXG75 coming out and have stated that they are moving to the Windows platform for the future.
As for this design, it's no more a copy than any other manafacturer is doing - look at all the RAZR copies! A little less bias in these posts would be nice
Gridlock @ Jan 3rd 2006 5:37AM
The Siemens SL65 slider was a very nice phone, small and 'pebbley' ahead of its time. Shame they faded away after it.
E71 @ Jan 3rd 2006 12:08PM
Should sue them for stealing my alias.
JT @ Jan 3rd 2006 12:16PM
Thanks for the review. We tried a trackback, they do not seem to be working.
A2 @ Jan 3rd 2006 12:17PM
People, People, People, its a phone! Who cares about the design or features. As long as you can talk to the ppl on the other line that's all that matters!
YA RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Features own, mp3, bluetooth everything WOWO!!!