$99.99 on a contract

May 4, 2009 06:59 GMT  ·  By

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has just announced that the long expected Nokia E71x, the slimmest smartphone on the market, will become available with the US carrier AT&T starting today. According to the company, the price tag of the full QWERTY handset has been set at $99.99, with a two-year contract agreement and after a mail-in rebate, while the market segment it is targeted at is comprised of messaging enthusiasts.

“The trend for messaging, whether email, IM, texting or social networking, is stronger than ever – we are seeing a real shift in the way people prefer to communicate,” says David Petts, vice president and general manager, AT&T Account, Nokia. “The E71x is one of the most stylish and sophisticated QWERTY smartphones on the market, and it's the ideal companion for people who enjoy easy messaging and connecting with their friends. We are thrilled to now bring this sleek smartphone to people across the United States with AT&T.”

What the Nokia E71x has to offer to users includes a thin form factor, a full QWERTY keypad, high-speed 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi capabilities, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, USB, speakerphone, 120 MB of internal memory coupled with a microSD memory card slot with support for up to 8 GB of additional storage space, a 2.4-inch display that can deliver a 240 x 320 pixel resolution and support for 16 Million colors, and a 3.2-megapixel photo snapper with video recording capabilities.

Among the features of the smartphone we can count a full HTML browser, Music player with support for MP3, AAC, Real, WAV and WMA file formats, video player, Text Messaging, Instant Messaging (AOL, Windows Live and Yahoo! Messenger), email capabilities with Xpress Mail, as well as support for social networking sites and AT&T Navigator. The phone's 1500 mAh battery can offer up to 4 hours of talk time and up to 12 days of standby time. The device measures 4.4 x 2.2 x 0.4 inches and weighs 4.4 ounces.

According to Nokia, the thin Nokia E71x that can now be found in AT&T stores or online on the carrier's website can easily fulfill the messaging needs of any mobile user. The company commissioned a survey that showed that 52 percent out of 500 American adults aged 18 and above would rather use text messages or emails to communicate in case they had to use only one method for two weeks. The survey also showed that social networking played a very important role in the life of mobile users. More details on the survey can be found here.

“Cutting-edge smartphones like the E71x are a huge hit with our customers who see their mobile phone as a hub for their digital lives,” said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Our customers rely on smartphones to stay connected using e-mail, text messaging, and social networks. The E71x is ideal for that.”

Photo Gallery (2 Images)

Nokia E71x available on AT&T starting today
Nokia E71x available on AT&T starting today
Open gallery