Birdstep launch Smartconnect - automatic best access of WiFi or 3G for Nokia mobile phones

Birdstep today launched SmartConnect, which brings simplified connection and mobility management to WiFi/WLAN-enabled smartphones. Phones supported for launch are Nokia E and N series including Nokia E61i and E65 as well as SonyEricsson P990i and most windows mobile 5.0 based Smartphones

Oslo/Stockholm/Seattle/San Francisco/Cambridge - February 12, 2007 -Birdstep Technology ASA, the leading provider of seamless connectivity and mobility software for laptop, PDAs and smartphones today launched SmartConnect, a unique application that automatically chooses the best available network for mobile phones equipped with WiFi/WLAN and 3G, giving users an easy way to utilize WiFi/WLAN/3G to connect to the internet.

Recent research has shown that there are a number of challenges that users face when trying to connect a dual radio device to the internet.

Nokia E61i takes over e-mail duties from the E62

With BlackBerry Connect e-mail and Wi-Fi, the slim Nokia E61i picks up where the E62 left off. Will we see it in the U.S.?

The Nokia E61i features a wide range of e-mail options, including POP, IMAP, BlackBerry Connect, Good Mobile Messaging, and Nokia's IntelliSync, though Microsoft's Exchange service is notably absent. Running the Symbian S60 series OS on a QVGA screen, the E61i looks similar to its predecessor, the Nokia E62, with its square QWERTY keyboard, but updates a few features beyond its e-mail capabilities.

Most notably, the Nokia E61i features a WCDMA radio for 2G networking, though its 2100 band probably means we won't see high-speed browsing here in the U.S. The quad-band GSM device does use the 850 band for GSM, so importers will still be able to take calls and perform some more basic (slower) data tasks.

3GSM 2007: Nokia launches three new Eseries models - E90 ...

Nokia has launched its second wave of Eseries business devices with three new handsets on show - the E90 Communicator, Nokia E65, and Nokia E61i. All devices are quad-band GSM and 3G friendly as well as having Wi-Fi connectivity, with the E90 Communicator also HSDPA-enabled. All devices also use Nokia's newly-launched Intellisync Mobile Suite 8.0 platform. The Nokia claims the E90 Communicator offers an "uncompromised mobile office experience". Based on the S60 platform, it also features an integrated GPS and Nokia Maps application, an FM radio, a music player, a video player and two cameras - a 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera with flash and a second camera for video conferencing.

The Nokia E65 is a slim slider, but with all the mobile business capabilities of a Nokia Eseries device.

Nokia E61i Live Photo Gallery

The Nokia E61i is not a huge upgrade over the original E61, but what is upgraded is certainly welcome. The most notable addition is a 2.0 megapixel camera, but the One Touch shortcut keys and updated design certainly make the device more attractive.

Quad-band GSM and UMTS connectivity are carried over from the E61, as is the 802.11 b/g WiFi. The 16 million color QVGA resolution screen makes email and web browsing easy, and the Nokia E61i also bundles full media playback capability. Up to 60MB of available on board memory and microSD memory expansion makes storage easy.

You can read a full specification sheet on the Nokia E61i by clicking on the related snapshot below, but for now enjoy these live photos from the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona.