Nokia E72 now in stock in the New World -- the US, to be specific

It's been a long, long journey, but Nokia's E72 -- the hotly-anticipated successor to the wildly popular E71 -- is finally available as an unlocked phone directly from Nokia USA following a November release elsewhere. The privilege of upgrading to what could very well be the finest S60 3.2 handset ever made won't be cheap, though: they're charging $469 before tax and shipping, but in exchange, you're getting a 5 megapixel cam, optical d-pad ("Navi Key" in Nokia parlance), and full-on HSPA with up to 10.2Mbps down and 2Mbps up. Of course, you won't get anything close to those speeds in the States -- but hey, you can't drive a Lambo 180 miles per hour on a public street, either.

[Thanks, Pankil]

[designfabulous Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:11PM]

@iPhoneMessenger Yes, you are very boring, using an iPhone like 90% of the readers.

[twoboxen Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:18PM]

@iPhoneMessenger
how is that iPhone text auto-correction working out for you?

[josesxi Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:04PM]

@iPhoneMessenger 2.36 QVGA screen? Yeah perfect my azz!

[Sea Urchin Posted Dec 3rd 2009 12:57PM]

They can keep this one to themselves.

[jerm Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:12PM]

the perfect business phone

[Shlooky Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:17PM]

@jerm
The perfect business phone is a blackberry period, not a joke of a phone that is Nokia

[jerm Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:18PM]

@(Unverified) sure it is

[MarkAnderson Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:24PM]

@(Unverified)

Well since you're too stupid to verify your account we can't take you seriously, can we?

[josesxi Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:06PM]

@jerm A shitty 2.36 QVGA screen Hahahahaha, Please..

[MarkAnderson Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:50PM]

@josesxi

It's OK, it's for people with jobs so there's no need for you to worry.

[tacovsgrilledcheese Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:21PM]

The e71 is better than anything Blackberry offers. Slimmer, sexier, CHEAP (£20 a month for unlimited texts, net, and 200 mins; phone's free as well) a much better user interface; and 3G which many BBs lack (No 3G in a smartphone is unacceptable these days); It's one of the best phones Nokia has ever made.

Can't wait to see how the e72 turns out. When i move back to the US, might just pick one of these up and put it on a prepaid plan. It looks like it's fixed the few flaws with the e71; and really deserves to be a popular phone.

[r3loaded Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:37PM]

@tacovsgrilledcheese Completely agree, I have several friends who've bought Blackberries for no apparent reason, other than purely on brand name. I then wow them with the superiority of my E71, which most importantly has Wi-Fi and is much thinner than their brickberries :P

[tacovsgrilledcheese Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:43PM]

@r3loaded Yeah i get the same thing every time i pull out my phone; "NICE BLACKBERRY MAN!!" "It's not a blackberry..."

I love how people pay twice the price for a crippled, chunky, non-wifi, GPS, or 3G blackberry; and complete ignore the superior phone with twice the power at half the size. Yeah the camera could be better, but it's easily the best phone I've ever owned.

[jerm Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:46PM]

@tacovsgrilledcheese the ones i know buy a blackberry do it purely because they want to use bb messenger.

[flexte Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:42PM]

@tacovsgrilledcheese
if it wasnt missing html email I would agree but come on now. the e71 was my final symbian phone until that gets integrated into mail4exchange not teh crappy mail program nokia has. oh yea and spell check in email would be nice. Add multiple google calendar sync without using goosync and I'm sold.

[flexte Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:44PM]

@(Unverified)
why am I unverified? lets try this again.

[michaspi Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:22PM]

The looks and durability of the E71 with the awesome keyboard of the E63.

This will be my next mobile phone.

[Dino Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:28PM]

I been using e71 for over a year now and I love it... So far the best phone I have used (i tried em many) it beats iphone and blackberry and yes it is the best nokia phone made so far (been looking at n 900) looks very promising...

[bonesb Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:38PM]

I'm looking at picking up a data device to use my broadband SIM in for email and nav. The E72 looks great, but the now-replaced E71 marked down to maybe $150 will look perfect!

[mkriedel Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:44PM]

t-mobile 3G users need not apply:
WCDMA 850/1900/2100, WCDMA 900/1900/2100

:(

[va jj Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:48PM]

@mkriedel


they have the n900

[mfong Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:09PM]

@mkriedel Those are AT&T's frequencies, no? I've been looking on Phone Arena, and making sure they match with AT&T.

[Shandy Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:15PM]

@mkriedel

Yeah it won't work on t-mo 3g, but I don't really care. Smartphone data plans are a complete rip-off anyway; the best thing about buying an unlocked device is not having to pay $25 a month for a data plan.

[aoi tsuki Posted Dec 4th 2009 1:40PM]

@mkriedel
AT&T 3G frequencies are the norm for unlocked Nokias. The N900 is the exception, not the rule.

[pankil Posted Dec 3rd 2009 1:50PM]

I am still dilly dallying over whether i should go for E71(Out of stock at amazon and 300 bucks at nokia usa) or E72 (amazon has it as preorder).Considering the fact that E72 is new it will be costlier so if I get a sweet deal for E71 I might go for it.

[Butler Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:43PM]

@pankil unless you really need the 5mp camera or headphone jack, I would go for the e71

[pankil Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:13PM]

@Butler I agree. The most critical changes in E72 from E71 is processor, camera and head phone jack. So if I get better deal on E71 then I will go for it. Waiting for some sweet deal to come my way?

[PrivateFlank Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:29PM]

@pankil

I think this review would help you make a better choice
http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e72-review-422.php

[pankil Posted Dec 3rd 2009 4:04PM]

@PrivateFlank I have read all the reviews that are available as of now. I have understood that both E71 and E72 are excellent phones.
*************************************
As per gsmarena; "..the Nokia E72 is king of the Eseries but whether it's the best choice for you is another matter. The Nokia E71 is still something to be reckoned with, though E72 brings a few important improvements, the chief of which is the upgraded camera (and probably the 600MHz CPU). "
*************************************
So if I get E71 under 200 bucks I will be happier. Anyways I have to decide by december end. I am currently using my friends device on At&t contract. I lost my iphone and do not want to get a smartphone with mandatory data plan. These two are the only smartphones that are available without mandatory data plan. I have my fingers crossed as of now.

[pika2000 Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:00PM]

Little bit too late, especially in the US. Now, they're competing with a plethora of subsidized android phones.

[kabome Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:01PM]

"Of course, you won't get anything close to those speeds in the States -- but hey, you can't drive a Lambo 180 miles per hour on a public street, either."

I didn't know high speed downloading was dangerous to myself and others.

[Craneguy Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:22PM]

@kabome

Depends what you're downloading.

Wrist and eye damage, maybe?

[ankmasta Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:14PM]

i love my e71. just wish nokia had a trade in option so i could get the e72

[mfong Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:18PM]

Just went to the Nokia website, and it looks like they're charging for the GPS function on the phone for $100 per year. Unless that service is similar to the AT&T Navigator service? Can one use the maps and the A-GPS function, without purchasing the $100 service?

[ALBGunner04 Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:28PM]

@mfong I'm pretty sure that charge is just to buy a licence for navigation. As far as I know (I own an N95 8GB), you're free to use the GPS receiver in the phone, and the Ovi Maps application, however, the Ovi Maps app cannot do turn-by-turn navigation because you don't have a licence, but it will do turn-by-turn directions

[JoeKay Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:29PM]

@mfong

They do not charge anything for the GPS function itself, and Ovi Maps, the onboard maps&navigation app is free too, but for turn-by-turn navigation you usually get a complimentary 90 day license with the phone, and then have to pay about $80 a year for a subscription.

[Brownman Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:20PM]

@mfong That price is only for Nokia Maps 2.0 turn by turn navigation. You can still use the A-GPS with any software free of charge including Maps 2.0 without turn by turn.

.

[mfong Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:48PM]

Well, looks like I'm going to buy this phone as soon as the exclusivity goes down.

Thanks guys for the help

[Po Posted Dec 3rd 2009 2:45PM]

It doesn't have Podcasting. Neither does the E52/55. I will stick to my Nokia 5730 or maybe get an HTC Hero import (w/ chin).

I have an iPod Touch, so maybe I might be able to get by with just an HTC Hero.

What you think?

[PrivateFlank Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:42PM]

@Po
Correct me if am wrong, I thought all Nokia phones come with podcasting in their music app. And by the way dude this is a business phone so don't expect lousy gimmicks...

[josesxi Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:02PM]

Available only in Black , Not in the beautifull Topaz brown or Gray colors.
Same thing with no N86 NAM in White.
Once againg Nokia is dissing us Yanks.

[GeceBekcisi Posted Dec 3rd 2009 4:01PM]

@josesxi

Next time build your networks with worldwide used standards and see what happens (this will probably happen in the future with LTE if you Yanks don't f.ck up with freqs again)

[kadajawi Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:19PM]

"Of course, you won't get anything close to those speeds in the States -- but hey, you can't drive a Lambo 180 miles per hour on a public street, either."
Why? Having no speed limits on some public roads rocks.

The E72... what the hell were Nokia smoking when they decided to go for THAT price?

[Endadget Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:34PM]

@kadajawi

Isn't that price about average for smartphones nowadays?

Or do you mean it's too cheap?
I'm not sure I get your comment...

[kadajawi Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:44PM]

@Endadget I'd say about average. But at this price point why would I get it over a Pixi, or one of those Android phones?

[DocTJ Posted Dec 3rd 2009 3:38PM]

about time
it seems like the n900 is out too, just "temporarily out of stock" on both amazon and nokiausa.

[Mr w00t Posted Dec 3rd 2009 4:21PM]

It is THE business phone... Got one from my company once and is lightning fast and feels very solid. The keyboard is awesome and with the messaging options in it it is just unbeatable...

I bought a n900 for personal usage and I am finding rather difficult to adjust to the companies Exchange server. E72 just works.

If you want a corporate phone this is the one to go.

ps. coolio, engadget didnt make fun of nokia, at least in this post. :)

[Primoz Posted Dec 3rd 2009 6:33PM]

Actually you CAN drive a Lambo at 180 mph in the US, even on public roads. You shouldn't. While i'm guessing you actually CAN'T download at 10 Mbps over 3,5G in the USA, since this article tells or rather hints, that none of the carriers support those speeds.

[JS Posted Dec 3rd 2009 6:40PM]

How is this phone better than the N900? Fine, it works with Exchange better or whatever .. but that can be fixed on the N900 with a software update.

Also, the display is merely QVGA which is half the resolution of most touchscreen phones. Which doesn't seem like a big deal until you consider how horrible browsing is on QVGA .. you have to keep zooming in etc. and since it doesnt have a touchscreen .. scrolling about isnt a smooth experience.

[JS Posted Dec 3rd 2009 6:44PM]

@JS

This phone is worth at most $99 flat -- without contract or any other gimmick.