Nokia Eseries no "credible response" to iPhone

The improvements made to Nokia's smartphone lineup through the E66 and E71 show no signs of avoiding a slide in the smartphone market, says a new investment note from American Technology Research. While Nokia has been facing increasing pressure at the low end of the phone market, which is often considered the most vulnerable, the new devices may suffer in light of upcoming launches of the BlackBerry Bold and iPhone 3G are now fostering "concerns of competition" among European stockbrokers, who now see Nokia's control of world smartphone marketshare at risk.

Neither of the new Eseries models are a "credible response," says American Technology analyst Mark McKechnie.

Both Nokia phones are some of the Finnish company's first to try and bridge the gap between its entertainment-oriented Nseries phones and the largely business-only approach of earlier Eseries models like the E61i. Past phones have been limited to slow second-generation (2G) data access in the US and have often lacked features considered essential outside of the work place, such as a camera, robust media playback support, and an attractive but portable design.

The Bold and iPhone 3G both plug the absence of faster Internet connections in addition to offering potentially stronger business e-mail. BlackBerries are already entrenched in North America through their push e-mail services, but the iPhone now receives full Exchange support in addition to its stronger media features. The E66 and E71 include their own Exchange support but have more ground to cover with their media playback capabilities.