Nokia's E63 breaks free for mass market consumption

The E63 just broke the shackles of the rumor monger to become Nokia's latest messaging device. With a pre-tax, pre-subsidy price of just €199, Nokia hopes to see the Symbian S60 device generate some mass-market appeal. So let's see: WiFi, physical QWERTY, choice of ruby red or aquamarine blue, standard 3.5-mm audio jack, camera with video recording, and the ability to switch from an E-series business mode (corporate email, appointments, intranet) to personal mode (pictures, personal email, and browser shortcuts) with a single key press -- sounds like a winning combination to us. Nokia's even tossing in 1GB of Ovi file storage for free when the E63 begins shipping in the coming weeks -- where, is Nokia's little secret for now. We'll update you with the hard details just as soon as Nokia releases them. Until then, check the blue version after the break.

Update: We were able to hack forth the following detail from the bowels of Nokia's website: 113 x 59 x 13-mm / 126g form factor, 320 x 240 pixel display, quad-band GSM / EDGE with 660 minute talk / 432 hours standby, microSD memory slot with 110MB internal memory, 2 megapixel camera capable of QVGA video @ 15fps, and of course, Bluetooth. It'll also be released in WCDMA 900/2100, 850/1900, and 850/2100 configurations. Sorry, no HSDPA data or infrared like that found on the E71.

[Dnns @ Nov 12th 2008 3:23AM]

Pff, i stay @ my E71

[Aaron @ Nov 12th 2008 5:14AM]

Me too. I love my E71. It's the best phone I've ever used.

Some people agree:
http://www.wired.com/reviews/productlisting/mobile

[MODjoMR @ Nov 12th 2008 3:24AM]

Might finally replace my trusty E61. Although i have been pondering about the E71 as well, so this might as well just widen the dilemma.

Anyway, looks like a great option for anyone looking for a seriously decent smartphone with a hardware qwerty (or azerty) in my case) keypad.

[Nick @ Nov 12th 2008 6:02AM]

I used to have an E61 but replaced it with an N95 due to the lack of camera.. I might return now, I actually miss the formfactor of the E-series QWERTYs. I was considering a blackberry but ehhhh I know how S60 works inside and out now!

[ian mcgrady @ Nov 12th 2008 11:39AM]

I like this phone too -- but my e61 is bullet-proof. E71 very pricey but no 3g/gps on this one. You really gonna hop off the e61 for this? I'm serious. I'm trying to think of my next move. But have you had any problems with calendaring in Symbian 60? My times get shifted all over the place.

[skeptical @ Nov 12th 2008 3:24AM]

Much more stylish and better functionality than the iPhone...A+++

[ybd @ Nov 12th 2008 4:12AM]

A+++++ will be trolled again.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 12th 2008 5:53AM]

Ha.. the first iPhone post to be highranked in a long time..
Keep it up ;)

(btw I do agree with you :p)

[iEye @ Nov 12th 2008 7:35AM]

If you think that this is better looking than an iPhone I would hate to see your choice in women and cars!

[mrd @ Nov 12th 2008 12:06PM]

ITS A WOMEN WITH ALL THE BUTTON IN THE right place M8,so yes i would like to see his choice in women

[Mojo @ Nov 12th 2008 3:31AM]

Crackberry killer!

[iEye @ Nov 12th 2008 7:36AM]

Why the mishmash of personal and business...

If you need personal, buy an iPhone, and for business buy a Black Berry, if you can't afford both then you are in the wrong business.

[Johan S @ Nov 12th 2008 3:33AM]

Web browsing most sites on QVGA is a hopeless exercise.

Fail.

[jordn @ Nov 12th 2008 3:41AM]

this phone is probably targeted at people who didn't realise you could get the internet on phones, hence the slower comms, lower resolution screen and the lower asking price! :)

That aside, looks pretty sleek!

[dextro11 @ Nov 12th 2008 4:02AM]

It's not a hopeless exercise, it's websurfing on a phone, which will never be the same as on your computer and is just as big a pain in the a** on an iphone (not talking about the ease of touchscreen navigation here) as it is on a QVGA screen. Why? Because you will still have to navigate around a miniature of the page. The only thing better on a bigger-than-QVGA screen is a bigger miniature of the same page.

@jordn; this phone is targeted at people who don't need web browsing on their phone. They want their email and organizer features, paired with a phone.
And it's not because it doesn't support BB Connect, that it can't handle mobile email.
Over here in Europe, most get their mobile email over 3G or other mobile data connections.

[KIFF @ Nov 12th 2008 4:09AM]

It is okay with Opera Mini.

[ArcticFox @ Nov 12th 2008 4:21AM]

"jordn @ Nov 12th 2008 3:41AM

this phone is probably targeted at people who didn't realise you could get the internet on phones, hence the slower comms, lower resolution screen and the lower asking price! :)"

Or people that arent addicted to the internet and need to be connected to it 24/7 wherever they are.

[Mark Anderson @ Nov 12th 2008 4:32AM]

@Johan S

Piffle. I have an Omnia and web browsing is just fine and dandy with Opera 9.5.

[Phoenix @ Nov 12th 2008 6:09AM]

Your Omnia is WVGA.... Over 4 times as many pixels as QVGA...

[Mark Anderson @ Nov 12th 2008 7:56AM]

@Phoenix

Not so. My Omnia is QWVGA. I think you might be confusing the original with the new T*Omnia.

[Phoenix @ Nov 12th 2008 11:53AM]

Really? I was convinced that the Omnia (the original, not the new one) was higher resolution than the Touch Diamond...

Oop, maybe you're right... Strange >.

[kanenas @ Nov 12th 2008 3:39AM]

No blackberry connect = no go.

[Valicore @ Nov 12th 2008 3:40AM]

Woah, the blue one looks really nice. Is it still as easy to type on being that thin? I think I know where it's NOT coming out, that would be the US.

[Sarig @ Nov 12th 2008 3:54AM]

Just import it yourself then, it's not like you're getting 3g anyway, so no need to worry about those pesky frequensies :)

[iEye @ Nov 12th 2008 8:02AM]

"choice of ruby red or aquamarine blue"

Wow, and I thought that dog shite was only came in black or brown... Nokia once again you have outdone yourself...

[cwj @ Nov 15th 2008 2:09AM]

@ iEye

Um, isn't black the dominant color of the iPhone?

Remain consistent in your trolling.

Better yet, just cease to remain.


;P

[KIFF @ Nov 12th 2008 3:45AM]

Dirt cheap. I may just get this for my gf who has been clamouring for a QWERTY smartphone.

[Unique Gift Ideas @ Nov 12th 2008 10:59AM]

That was the first thing I thought of when I read the specs and saw the phone.

[Greendave @ Nov 12th 2008 3:50AM]

Would never give up my iPhone web browser and iTunes video and mp3 sync for E63. Nor do I want to faf about with memory cards. However, would love to have the .................. just checked the spec and, nope, it doesn't even have the one thing I want for my iPhone, a decent autofocus camera.

Please will some manufacturer produce a phone that will make Apple improve the features on my iPhone. I know Steve Jobs said it was 5 years ahead of the competition - it sounded stupid but hurry up Nokia, at least try and prove him to be wrong!

[Sarig @ Nov 12th 2008 3:55AM]

Nobody cares.

[shimmy shimmy yah @ Nov 12th 2008 4:04AM]

woah that was a really stupid, uneducated post, i award you no points and may god have mercy on your soul.

[Ramifications @ Nov 12th 2008 4:05AM]

My LG Dare has had an autofocus camera for the past 4 months....

[Aaron @ Nov 12th 2008 5:16AM]

Psst... Nokia's smartphones sync with iTunes. You don't have to "give it up" to move to an E63.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 12th 2008 5:56AM]

Funny how if you get the "Missing Sync" you can do more with a Windows Mobile phone on a Mac than with an iPhone.. so go praise your iPhone..

[Greendave @ Nov 12th 2008 10:43AM]

Wow, didn't realise I had landed in another of those "we hate the iPhone and anyone who thinks it is a great phone must be stupid" juvenile forums.

By the way, thanks Aaron, I genuinely didn't know Nokias synced with iTunes - if it will play all my podcasts, music, videos and keep track of where I am, having listened or watched some of it on the computer, and then transferred it to my phone, and note which are unseen/unheard, I would be well impressed. Still wont browse the web like my iPhone which is what I spend much of my time doing. Anyway, not to get distracted because I am only going to get slated again for mentioning I like the iPhone.

Oh, and thanks Ramifications, I want an autofucus, but the LG Dare is not going to scare Apple into upgrading the iPhone, I want a real competitor that will actually take sales from iPhone, not just have a great spec but be soooo less useable for the masses.

Oh, I just gave myself a -ve ranking as punishment for mentioning the iPhone.

[evil-m0nkey @ Nov 12th 2008 3:53AM]

zOMGz, spacebar has a flashlight

NOKIA, E71 firmware update, liek NAOWWW!!!!!!!

[some guy on the internet @ Nov 12th 2008 4:01AM]

I have memories days of growing up with Nokia: From black and white to my amazing 3650. That said, QVGA is just not going to cut it, not with the Bold around. Hell even the Treo in packing 320x320, For my money give me 640x480 or at the very least 480x320.

Otherwise, just like the rest of the E series it looks sharp.

[KIFF @ Nov 12th 2008 4:07AM]

QVGA for a 200euro phone unsubsidised price I won't complain about the screen. But if you need higher res you can always get their 5800 XpressMusic (Tube).

[AlDeezy @ Nov 12th 2008 4:13AM]

This phone looks great, but the symbian software is so bland. I have a nokia n95 8 gb, and as of now, I will not be purchasing another nokia phone. To tell the truth I really don't need a smartphone, but I can't resist the lure of these amazing phones. lol

[Lumas @ Nov 12th 2008 4:16AM]

I bought a NOKIA N72 last year,the phone is very good,my family is using it all the time.I am uisng Nidesoft 3GP video converter to converter the iphone suppports the format of the video.I like the NOKIA and the Nidesoft.

[w4rh34rt @ Nov 12th 2008 4:14AM]

I've got the E71 and it's amazing. Sounds like a good deal for people who don't need all the features of the E71, but still want a decent handset.

Loving the E71!

[avis @ Nov 12th 2008 4:16AM]

finally Nokia got it right but no 3G ;(

[Al @ Nov 12th 2008 4:49AM]

# E63-1 Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 900/2100
# E63-2 Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850/1900
# E63-3 Quad-band EGSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850/2100

I'm disappointed about the lack of GPS

[Luke D @ Nov 12th 2008 4:26AM]

Crap, I just bought an e71 yesterday!!!

The standard 3.5-mm audio jack of the e63 is enough to make me second guess my purchase. That and the price.

[Tired_ @ Nov 12th 2008 4:27AM]

I didn't like this phone when Palm released it.

[digitallysick @ Nov 12th 2008 4:43AM]

Nokia makes nice products so i am sure its good phone, hopefully cheaper than a blackberry, its the only way people would buy one instead of a blackberry

[daddycool @ Nov 12th 2008 5:16AM]

What charger does it have? Finally a mini or micro USB or still the proprietary Nokia one on the E71?

[neoufo51 @ Nov 12th 2008 5:41AM]

Oh great. Another overpriced smartphone with a tiny screen. I know Engadget readers hate Apple for how they lockdown their iPhone but it's incredible how more phonemakers aren't using that weakness to make a phone with all of the iPhone's strengths and none of it's weaknesses.

[Rauha @ Nov 12th 2008 6:18AM]

Oh great. Another idiot that doesn't understand phone prices.

199 euros for this when it's fully unlocked & unsubsized is freaking amazingly low price. Possibly the lowest release price for a smartphone ever.

[iEye @ Nov 12th 2008 7:39AM]

Not when you try to buy it with the low USD dollar.. Canada too!