Nokia announced that the Nokia E71x, its slimmest smartphone is now on the market. First announced last March, the E71x will be available in AT&T retail stores and online beginning today. The smarthphone is priced at just USD 99.99*. Teh much-anticipated full QWERTY smartphone arrives at a time when one in two people surveyed say they would prefer to communicate via text message or email over phone calls**.
In a recent survey conducted with 500 American adults aged 18 and above, 52 percent said they would prefer to use texting or emailing if they had to use only one communication method for two weeks. The option of only making voice calls for two weeks trailed behind at 40 percent, according to the people surveyed. The survey, commissioned by Nokia, looked at the way people use messaging and social networking on their mobile devices.
The results revealed that both texting and social networking from the mobile device are playing a part in the romantic side of life. More than one in four, or 26 percent, have made plans for seeing a special someone via social networking on their mobile, and 64 percent have made plans for a date via text messaging.
Additionally, 32 percent of those surveyed have responded to a text message during a romantic dinner, and more than one in ten, or 11 percent, have actually interrupted a romantic engagement or dinner to respond to a social networking message. The same percentage of people say they have ended a romantic relationship via text, and seven percent have ended a relationship via social networking from their mobile.
Nearly three in four people, or 69 percent, said they send text messages at least once a day. What they use it for is revealing – nearly one in three, or 29 percent, say it is acceptable to tell friends/family they just got laid off via text message and one in ten would “call” in sick to work via text messaging.
AT&T is proud to claim that the Nokia E71x is the thinnest Smart phone in the world by far. Powered by Symbian S60 3.2 operaing system, the E71x features a full QWERTY keyboard, Microsoft Exchange Email synchronization, Wi-Fi, Music Player, GPS, Full HTML Web browser with Flash support, and QuickOffice® and PDF reader.
“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.”
The E71x is priced at $149.99 after mail-in rebate, and two-year service contract. Customers will get a $50 AT&T promotion card, kind of like a credit card, which could be used to pay phone bills, but not redeemable for cash.
