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Nokia introduced a pair of new smartphones lines last year, the multimedia NSeries and the all business ESeries, both based on the Finnish phone giant's S60 interface and the Symbian operating system (OS). While one N-model handset is already in user's hands, the Carl Zeiss-powered N90 camera phone (see our review), another eagerly-awaited handset, the 4 GB N91 music phone, has yet to hit store shelves.

Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the N91(click here for pictures of the smartphone's insides) along with the full-size QWERTY thumb-keyboard E70 communicator for U.S. release.

More recently, another ESeries model, the lower-end E60 - a traditional candy bar-styled smartphone - met FCC approval.

While an FCC thumbs up is essential, it doesn't guarantee we'll see a particular smartphone in this country. Too much depends on other factors, such as carrier/manufacturer machinations and politics, for example. So it should come as no surprise when we say it is still not known what operator, if any, will eventually offer any of these smartphones - the N91, E70, E60 - or for how much - in this country. We'll let you know when we do.

N91
According to FCC documentation (see user manual), the N91 will support Nokia's Music Shop application for over-the-air downloads and purchases of songs, PC Music Sync (with Windows Media Player 11) with Janus DRM (digital rights management) for Copyright protection, and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) to help users share playlists and possibly music files; at least with your own other UPnP-compatible equipment.

The N91's 4 GB hard disk drive purports to hold up to 3,000 songs, according to Nokia. It'll compete with Sony Ericsson's Walkman phones, especially the upcoming W950i (introduced at last week's giant 3GSM show) and Samsung's SGH-i300x, both with 4 GB hard disk drives as well.

Nokia places a 3.5 mm stereo jack for headphones right into the phone, so there's no need for dongles, and bundles a headset and remote control. The N91 also has dedicated keys for its audio player functions, which support the MP3, AAC, WMA and M4A music formats. An industry standard mini USB 2.0 port should make transferring files fast and easy.

Additional audio components include an 8-band equalizer and an FM radio. Wireless features include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi plus a GSM/GPRS/EDGE (900/1800/1900 MHz) cellular radio. EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) provides the phone’s 2.5G component for average data transfer speeds of 135 kilobits per second (kbps).

The N91, like the other models in the NSeries integrates a 2-megapixel camera for up to 1600 x 1200 still images and 352 x 288 pixel video. Its screen runs at 176 x 208 pixels.

E70, E60
The ESeries, purchase of data and e-mail synchronization specialist Intellisync, and the release of its own push e-mail solution - Nokia Business Center - are all part of Nokia's play for RIM's mob-e-mail turf. The Nokia ESeries will even support RIM's BlackBerry Connect, a service that allows devices other BlackBerry handhelds to leverage its renowned - and legally in limbo - solutions.

All three ESeries smartphones, the two approved by the FCC plus the E61, handle a variety of GSM frequencies plus UMTS 3G (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ) - 300 to 400 kbps, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Infrared and USB 2.0. Nokia says the devices support advanced voice features, such as Internet (Voice over IP) phone calls, Push to talk, and other SIP-based rich call solutions. In addition, companies deploying an Avaya or Cisco IP PBX can connect ESeries smartphones directly to their corporate phone networks, enabling functions like four-digit dialing and assisted call answering

The straight forward E60 has an integrated speakerphone and delivers conference calling to voice-aided applications. Although optimized for one-handed use, Nokia asserts its large high resolution 352 x 408 pixel screen makes e-mail and calendar entries easy. It has 70 MB of memory and the lack of a camera is friendly to security conscious enterprises everywhere.


E60

Closed, the Nokia E70 looks like a typical smartphone. Open it up and you find a full messaging keyboard. The handset supports attachment viewing and editing.


E70 Closed

Nokia says it will offer two versions of the E70—one optimized for mobile networks in Europe and Asia (GSM900/1800/1900/WCDMA 2100) and the other for mobile networks in the Americas (GSM850/1800/1900). Nonetheless, both versions are able to roam in GSM networks across regions. See Nokia's Web site for more information.


E70 Open