Nokia E71 finally coming to AT&T as E71x

We've been hearing for ages that there was a super-special version of the E71 with an AT&T ROM floating around somewhere in Nokia's skunkworks, but solid evidence of its existence has been scarce to say the least; some said it was canceled, some said it was just taking its sweet time going through the testing process, and some put a hand over our mouth and told us never to speak "AT&T" and "E71" in the same sentence again lest an agent overhear us. New in-the-wild shots give us -- and the North American S60-loving public -- newfound hope that the phone's gonna actually happen, but it'll emerge as the "E71x." That's a new suffix for Nokia, so we really have no idea what it might mean -- more internal memory would be cool, but we're not really counting on it. Word is that it'll be available for something in the $150 range when it finally hits, so if the 6650 isn't your cup o' tea, hang tight. (And by the way, guys, we're totally digging the black.)

[comptr @ Nov 19th 2008 3:46PM]

WooHoo this is going to be my next phone. Now I know What to get with my upgrade. This will be the perfect compelment with my iPhone. And I can slowlly stop using the iPhone completly.

[helixtimestwo @ Nov 19th 2008 9:31PM]

e71 = secks

AT&T is killin' it lately:epix, bold, fuze, ip3g, incite and now this.

[The Joker @ Nov 19th 2008 3:49PM]

I like the form-factor. Like the Q or Bold or BlackJack. I believe Nokia phones run Symbian. Does anyone know if Symbian can sync with Outlook?

I'm off to Handango to look for apps. This may be my new phone if Verizon keeps acting like a d1ck by forcing people into data plans.

[tev @ Nov 20th 2008 8:42AM]

Yes. I currently use an unlocked E71, and I sync with Outlook. Also check out skyfire.com. It is flash browser for symbian and windows mobile devices.

[kjb434 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:55PM]

Nokia has apps built in that does a good job of syncing with outlook.

A co-worker has the previous ATT model and she has no problems with it.

It is a symbian based phone. Just make sure any app you get will work on this version.

[Mobius_1 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:26PM]

If I worked for Verizon, I'd be scared, very scared.

[StalematE @ Nov 19th 2008 3:49PM]

nice hairdo buddy...

[bob sakamano @ Nov 19th 2008 3:57PM]

my thoughts exactly

[Zelatio @ Nov 19th 2008 4:43PM]

He accidentally a coke bottle and looked what happened.

[Ted @ Nov 19th 2008 5:17PM]

Never gonna give you up! Never gonna let you down!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rick_Astley-cropped.jpg

[davedrastic @ Nov 19th 2008 7:16PM]

Is that a hair-do or a dead budgie?

[Patriks7 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:50PM]

"I dig big black dudes."

[kjb434 @ Nov 19th 2008 3:56PM]

.... and there big black ******!

[ProjecT TimeZ @ Nov 19th 2008 4:01PM]

@ kjb434

Your ***** are obviously for their head right ;)

[Patriks7 @ Nov 20th 2008 2:09AM]

This was a reply to a first post that Engadget seems to have deleted..
Also, it's a "Meet the Spartans" reference..

[ace587 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:08PM]

Awesome. Finally a decent nokia qwerty after the E62

[JPA914 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:09PM]

I have the E71-2 (NA model) I found it for under $400 about 2½ weeks ago. I am using it on at&t on an expired contract. I LOVE this phone. I swithced from an old HTC windows phone. It took a few days to learn how it all worked but it has been making me happier with it every day.
The size is great, it is SO easy to use one-handed and the keyboard works better than you can imagine just looking at it. It is a fingerprint magnet (I got the white) but it polishes up nicely.

It looks like the E-71x doesn't have the user facing camera which is useless in the US anyway. They can probably delete the IR connection (who is ever going to use that??) and the bar-code reading application. The only part lacking is the camera. The specs are good but the pictures are not. Here's hoping for a firmware update to fix that!

If you don't want to wait, the phone is worth $400.

[Traveling @ Nov 19th 2008 4:18PM]

I have been using the e71 for a few months and have been pretty impressed. I aslo have a 2G iPhone and have found that the e71 is smaller and has a nicer form factor that the iphone. The lack of a touch screen is a bit annoying, but the controls are quite easy and the phone quality is great.

Overall, I would say this is not a replacement for my iPhone. I find that there are lots of tasks that are simple to do on he iphone that take much longer on the e71. I will say that for those who want a very stylish phone and are not fans of the iphone this is hands down better than any other smartphone that I have used. If this had a more intuitive Palm type OS instead of Symbian it would be a killer. As is, it's a really solid phone and has lots of great features.

Major negative is the camera. Absolutely sucks. Hopefully they will fix it with this new e71x

[Mikey @ Nov 19th 2008 4:42PM]

God Damnit,

I just got the e71-2 for $350. I replaced my 2G iphone. (I just couldn't take the lack of reception and limiting sms/mms capabilities of the iphone.) Whatever i dont care if i got a phone that you can get at the ATT store. This phone is rock solid. The os is a lil clunky but its worth being able to make calls in my bedroom!

[DaDrumma @ Nov 19th 2008 5:07PM]

Didn't this model have huge reception problems? I found quite a few posts online of users complaining about the fact that if a hand is placed around the lowe portion of the phone (where supposedly the antena is), the reception bars would go from as high as they were when the hand was not there to sometimes 0 bars!!! Is this fixed? Can either Mikey, Travelling or JPA914 corroborate? Have you had such issues? Can you test?
I would love to get this phone, the only thing that stopped me from ever buying was fear of bad reception.

[Mikey @ Nov 19th 2008 5:45PM]

Umm i just tried making a call with my hand on the bottom of the phone. I didnt notice any reception problems. Im using this on att. I have a dead spot in my apt. Ill try to see if I still get problems if hold the phone a different way when i get home.

[Mikey @ Nov 19th 2008 8:23PM]

OK yeah im at home. There is an issue. Just dont hold it at the bottom of the phone. or move it to gsm only not Dual mode. Meh its still better than the iphne in terms of reception.

[ace587 @ Nov 19th 2008 9:04PM]

my nokias had better rf than my iphone, rf is one of my bad gripes about the iphone

[JPA914 @ Nov 20th 2008 11:03AM]

My reception is better than it was with my old HTC. My home is in a weak spot. The E71 works without a problem. where the old phone hardly worked at all. I also have fring loaded so I can use WiFi for calls if that is an option.
BTW - I am really impressed with the sensitivity of the GPS antenna. It works fine even if I have it in the middle of the front seat of the car.

[Jason @ Nov 19th 2008 5:13PM]

I sent in this story to Engadget almost two months ago when I was testing an E71x for a focus group.

[Jeff @ Nov 19th 2008 5:28PM]

Any differences between the E71x and the E71? Also, did they tell you when this will be available to the public? Thanks.

[Poom @ Nov 19th 2008 5:34PM]

Now let's all hope AT&T won't manage to make the E71 lag and suck like the E62.

[Aaron @ Nov 19th 2008 5:47PM]

Has hell frozen over?

Not only are AT&T actually releasing one of the best Nokia smartphones around, they're picking it up in a decent color scheme too!

IMO, the E71 is the best phone Nokia has ever made. Looks great, feels great and performs great. Stable, reliable and outstanding battery life. It even has copy and paste.

[Steven @ Nov 19th 2008 6:00PM]

I've been carrying one for a couple of weeks, the biggest complaint I have is all the AT&T crapware in the ROM that you can't get rid of. It's Symbian S60 v3.2, which I think might be a difference between the 71x and the 71 - I think it's v3.1.

[CJ @ Nov 20th 2008 2:29AM]

Have you tried using NSS to change the product code?

[holycow @ Nov 19th 2008 6:27PM]

I believe this would be soon coming to Rogers as well. Just after i get the damn iPhone (as it was the cheapest QWERTY+WiFi phone they had) the BB Bold drops to $199.99 and E71 is going to be releasing.
I hate Rogers!

[csrx @ Nov 19th 2008 6:43PM]

Yup, it's true. Many e71 handsets have reception problems because of the location of the antenna. Google it, read through howard for more details.

[masaya @ Nov 19th 2008 7:58PM]

Absolutely no reception problems with E71. It's ROCK SOLID.

[Renegade Fanboy @ Nov 19th 2008 8:30PM]

Googled "E71 reception problems", first hit (mobiletechreview) says:

"[...] I even held the E71 against my body and the signal did not degrade. Therefore, reception should not be a major issue. If you are in a strong signal area you will not notice any signal loss, no matter how you hold the phone and if you're in a weak signal area, you can reduce reception problems by being careful in how you hold the phone. [...]"

Hope this helps to clarify.

[HillBill @ Nov 19th 2008 8:40PM]

I own this phone (E71 NAM) and there is no reception issue as you mentioned. If you put your hand around the antenna regardless of the make or model, the reception will drop. That is physics. Awesome phone, solid build and amazing battery. This thing will be the bestseller this holiday season if it makes it.

[sam @ Nov 19th 2008 8:20PM]

with a 4 or 8gb memory cards, this will replace the overpriced iPOD...

[SNP @ Nov 19th 2008 9:07PM]

too bad the "x" doesn't mean it'll work with BBC now...

[david amodt @ Nov 19th 2008 9:11PM]

Love my E71-2, great phone, works with great apps, and no app crashes. Have an iphone 3G that I cancelled and sold, it's got too many issues to deal with. Nokia phones just work.

[munir @ Nov 19th 2008 10:35PM]

does the sling mobile client work with the e71 and its version of s60?

[SevSt3R @ Feb 6th 2009 3:02AM]

Nope, sling mobile does not work on my E71-1

[alex @ Nov 19th 2008 11:17PM]

If the world existed without the iPhone, this would be my next phone. Glad to see some decent headsets beginning to trickle into our carriers shelves.

[hamza @ Nov 20th 2008 12:47AM]

It seems that this version of the E71 has Feature Pack 2, which is obvious by the the time shown in the menu, which was one of the changes brought by this FP.
And it seems that Nokia is trying to get more market in the US these days, good for them I say.

[saz @ Nov 20th 2008 2:39AM]

HELP:>>>> am about to buy a phone but now aftr seeing dis phone am cnfuse,now i dont kno which one is btter, the E71 or tha att FUZE?? pls help me which 1 is btter guys. and Question about the E71,is it touch screen like FUZE? and i found a lot of posts sayng they got it for $350 or less (maybe),where can i get E71 as cheap as that? (unlocked) pls reply to this questions ASAP,thanks!

[Ben @ Nov 20th 2008 11:54AM]

saz are you mentally deficient?

[Brian @ Nov 20th 2008 3:06PM]

Anyone know if this phone supports threaded text messaging? I am sold, threaded text is a must for me though. Thanks!

[el serpiente @ Nov 20th 2008 3:11PM]

Do a search for 'Nokia Conversation'. It works on the E71...

[Rick @ Nov 20th 2008 7:24PM]

Is it in night mode?

[Damien @ Nov 21st 2008 1:34PM]

I've been wanting an E71 since the firs ttime i saw one. Lucky for me, I've been stalling and haven't picked one up yet. Its the PERFECT phone for me, and now i have a reason to renew my ATT contract

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