The E5 is Nokia's new 3G Symbian Smartphone; it is optimised for both business and personal functionality, Nokia have loaded the E5 with superb messaging and social networking features. The phone has a full QWERTY keyboard and the vibrant display measures at 2.36inches and has QVGA resolutions. Nokia have also given attention to the entertainment side of a good mobile experience with accommodation for a digital camera, A-GPS receiver, multimedia player and FM radio. Nokia have high hopes for the E5.

Nokia's E5 model represents there efforts to tempt loyal Blackberry users away, the E5 will deliver a similar performance to a Blackberry; it has similar design and the quality is apparent in both the build of the phone and the software package. The 2.36inch QVGA screen is very bright and displays images, photos and web pages very nicely. The phone comes in a number of corporate colours with Carbon Black and Chalk White the pick of the bunch for me. The Monoblock phone has a five-way navi key for on screen navigation and dedicated buttons for your home page and call controls.

Connectivity is a key feature for any mobile device these days, Nokia have provided ample web browsing support with HSDPA (3G) network and Wi Fi technology; both connections deliver high speed, reliable performances and the web browser is very efficient and easy to use. You can create direct shortcuts from your home screen to your favourite news plug-ins, websites, social networks, messaging and media applications, almost anything can be brought to the surface for immediate access. Nokia's pre-loaded Ovi package plays its part in the user experience; it supplies its user with Ovi Maps for navigational purposes, the free Ovi Mail service is in place for those who like to stay in touch, accounts from the likes of Hotmail and Gmail can also be managed. Ovi also provide some online aspects with the Ovi Store and Ovi Music Store which deliver a full collection of additional applications, games, themes and music via download.

The E5 is primarily application based with an app for your Ovi Music Player which will handle all of your musically related requests; there is also an application for the QuickOffice document viewer which works well in collaboration with the ActiveSynch Exchange service in synchronizing you business mail accounts and busy calendar. Nokia have decided to add support for IM which proves its accessibility to the working community aside from the business community, WindowsLive, GoogleTalk and Nokia's own Ovi Chat services are all compatible with the E5. On of the Nokia E5's nicest features is the 5 mega pixel digital camera; shooting both stills and videos in high resolution you can upload your favourite pictures and video clips direct to YouTube or your personal online social accounts.

Nokia have presented Blackberry with some very strong competition in the form of the E5; with great support for SNS, messaging, e-mail and media the E5 could win over a few Blackberry fans and business users. Nokia have given the E5 a multi dimensional format with its Smartphone functionality and useable QWERTY keyboard and they hope that this could be what the market needs; a bit of variety when it comes to professional, messaging focused devices.

By Lee Thornton