Nokia E71 Review : A Near Perfect QWERTY Smartphone?

I am writing this review of the Nokia N71 on the smartphone itself. This is a test of my patience as well as the device's ability to behave as a suitable mainstream modern handset.

The main reason why we reviewed it today is that it can be had at a bargain price. We've tested the E71 on 3's network where the handset is available for £20 per month on an 18-month contract complete with a 2GB microSD card. 

This gives you 200 minutes, unlimited texts and internet as well as free skype on top of unlimited 3-to-3 calls. In comparison, the SIM Free version will cost you £250 at play.com (both at the time of writing).

The phone is also available from Vodafone on a rather tasty 10 months half price contract with 600 minutes, unlimited internet and unlimited texts. That will cost you £17.50 for the first 10 months, followed by 8 month at £35, a saving of £175.

Nokia is marketing it as a QWERTY enabled smartphone for business users worldwide who might be put off by the price and complexity of RIM's Blackberry range.

The phone - which was released last year - has received a number of accolade from experts inlcuding the Editors and Readers' Choice from Cnet.co.uk, Phone of the Year and the Best Smartphone at the 2008 Mobile Choice Consumer Awards and WIRED Magazine's 2008 Best of Test.

The first thing you notice about it is how different it is from the run of the mill Nokia family, even when compared to the more expensive Nokia N series family. The E71’s chassis has more metal parts than any other phones I’ve used before and this, combined with its classy chrome finish, means that it looks much posher than its price would lead you to believe.