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Nokia says unspecified software issues delayed the release of six highly-anticipated smartphones, three multimedia NSeries models - the N91, N71 and N80 - and three all business ESeries handsets - the E60, E61 (see top image) and E71 phones.

Of the ESeries, all of which were due for launch last month, the E61 communicator (Nokia's answer to the BlackBerry and Treo) will most likely see release first, once software testing has been completed.

"We did reprioritize the Nokia E61 device in our development plans based on operator demand," spokeswoman Maria Kellokumpu told Cellular News. "Based on the business plans of many of our operator customers, they (E-series phones) will likely be available in large EMEA markets first," she added.

And it appears the N91 (see top image) music phone - one of a new breed of 4 GB handset (originally set for a holiday 2005 release)- will finally make its appearance, along with the the N71 and N80 later this month. (For more on all these smartphones, see the links below.)


N91

In related news, the Finnish phone giant will showcase its 6136 UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) - unveiled in February - this week at CTIA in Las Vegas. UMA is a technology that allows GSM carriers to seamlessly hand off calls between cellular and Wi-Fi networks.

Dual-mode phones like the 6136 can automatically detect the fastest and most cost-effective network available, cellular or Wi-Fi, at home or on the road. When a user wenters a WLAN, for example, the phone switches his call from cellular to a Voice over IP connection.


6136

With voice revenue slowly declining, operators are looking towards content to make up the difference. They're banking on dual-mode convergence as one tool to do so, because the additional bandwidth of a Wi-Fi network should encourage mobile subscribers to use more data services, such as Web, e-mail, MMS, music, video, handset TV, etc.