vB Easy Archive - Needed: Expert/concise clarification for Nokia E71x vs. E71 NAM on AT&T network

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Needed: Expert/concise clarification for Nokia E71x vs. E71 NAM on AT&T network
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Posted by: tenorplayer23

All,

I have read strings & strings of threads regarding the comparisions of the Nokia E71 NAM vs. E71x phones. After covering so much ground on this site (and others) I am still left a bit confused about the differences of these devices as they work on AT&T's network.

FYI, I am way past the available pricing differences for AT&T's phone and the unlocked E71. I understand that AT&T has added potential revenue generating apllications to their phone and that many a Nokia expert here and elsewhere feel that it is unnecessary (and even have devised processs to rid the phone of them). I also understand the benefit of transporting a unlocked GSM phone from carrier to carrier.

I also understand that the hardware differences are mostly small - some mention of keypad surface feel, quality of camera (although, perhaps debatable), color offerings, of course the firmware difference, Symbian OS version on one versus another, AT&T apps appearing on the E71x, to name the most prominent. Which FP version is better - seems to be individual peference.

But, for a non-GSM user at this point, but hopefully soon, (I did own a series of Nokia 6100 series of phones years ago - and frankly, thought they were excellent at the time), I need some summary clarification about a few things.

1) My first question is - WHAT can the E71x do on the AT&T network that the unlocked E71 NAM can't? What are the most significant advantages of using the E71 NAM on the AT&T network. I see reference to being able to take advantage of 3G system speeds with the E71x. Not with the E71 NAM???

2) There is a great deal of discussion about which "data or PDA" plan to use with either phone on AT&T, as well as, the use of Wifi, which both phones have. Having looked at AT&T pricing, I see the $15 difference. However, I'm not sure what each plan variant gives you exactly "what" with the E71x and E71, respectively. Can you clarify?

3) And, subsequently, how does Wifi affect the choice of one or the other of these plans? I understand that you can use Wifi with the phone in hotspots (or on a home wireless network, for that matter).

4) EMAIL: I understand that you can access web based mail via the internet obtained by accessing Wifi or through the repective AT&T plan. For email from my ISP POP3 account (or corporate exchange, but more importantly, the former) how do the E71x and E71 NAM with the respective AT&T data plans work? Claification of this will probably also clarify data plan selection AND influence the financial decision about which phone to purchase.

5) Finally, since I have had CDMA phones for a long time, how does the actual discussion with AT&T go to obtain the requisite SIM card and month to month phone pla, if you have the unlocked Nokia E71 NAM, to get the optimum use of the phone with their network capabilities?

If you could help with clarifications with these specific questions, I'd greatly appreciate it. Their not intuitive necessarily to a relatively experienced user.

Thanks again.

Posted by: FormerRuling

1) My first question is - WHAT can the E71x do on the AT&T network that the unlocked E71 NAM can't? What are the most significant advantages of using the E71 NAM on the AT&T network. I see reference to being able to take advantage of 3G system speeds with the E71x. Not with the E71 NAM???

Stuff like Cellular Video you would have to mess with the unlocked one to get to work...But who uses cellular video. E71-2 most currently DOES have 3g frequencies on it. The middle question is too long to discuss - but the feature I use most is manual network selection.

2) There is a great deal of discussion about which "data or PDA" plan to use with either phone on AT&T, as well as, the use of Wifi, which both phones have. Having looked at AT&T pricing, I see the $15 difference. However, I'm not sure what each plan variant gives you exactly "what" with the E71x and E71, respectively. Can you clarify?

There is no difference between the plans at all...except that AT&T will force you into the $30 one with the E71x, though at the end of the day a good social engineer can get the $15 one added to other version...but AT&T might start sweeping through and adding the $30 back at any time.

3) And, subsequently, how does Wifi affect the choice of one or the other of these plans? I understand that you can use Wifi with the phone in hotspots (or on a home wireless network, for that matter).

No difference in WiFi.

4) EMAIL: I understand that you can access web based mail via the internet obtained by accessing Wifi or through the repective AT&T plan. For email from my ISP POP3 account (or corporate exchange, but more importantly, the former) how do the E71x and E71 NAM with the respective AT&T data plans work? Claification of this will probably also clarify data plan selection AND influence the financial decision about which phone to purchase.

Again...No difference in the data plans. Mail is alittle different because AT&T phone uses that Mail by Exchange or w/e its called and on the unlocked you'd likely use Nokia Messaging (which some have had problems installing on the E71x).

5) Finally, since I have had CDMA phones for a long time, how does the actual discussion with AT&T go to obtain the requisite SIM card and month to month phone pla, if you have the unlocked Nokia E71 NAM, to get the optimum use of the phone with their network capabilities?

Its supposed to be as easy as going to the store and setting up the account and buying the SIM. Some stores are reluctant to start contractless lines though. Long standing discussion.

Posted by: Ride9650

1. Nothing..they are both pretty much the same phone, with the exception of course of the updated software on the x. Both get 3G.

2. It doesn't matter what plan you use. Both the PDA plan and the Media net plan function the same way and give the same features. Keep in mind that you will be forced to use the more expensive PDA plan if you use the E71x as it is an ATT branded phone.

3. ? Not sure what you're asking here...I don't think it should affect your choice of data plan given that both have wi-fi.

4. Again, it doesn't matter what data plan you choose. They both function EXACTLY the same way...You can get email from anywhere.

Speaking from experience with the E71, it has the settings for most major email providers already coded in. You just type in your email address and password, the phone will plug in the rest of the settings. You will have to manually add the settings for other email providers such as your work, or in my case, my school email. I imagine that the E71x is exactly the same.

5. Bring a phone in and tell them you wanna go month to month. In my experience it should be that simple, but given that you want to go month to month, they may try to charge you for the SIM. Hopefully someone else can clarify. And yes, you can use the E71 to its full potential even though its unlocked.

Posted by: rnauman821

The $15 medianet plan used by the unlocked phone has no hard cap what so ever. Go unlocked.

Posted by: momcat1

And if you have any interest at all in buying add on software later, the unlocked version has Nokia's Download site coded in, where it's easy to find new applications. I've had my unlocked E71 for several months now, and the only ATT thing that is missing is my MediaNet site. I can and do get the same content from several other places. It just took a few mintues to setup bookmarks for them.

My $15 unlimited data still works as it did before this phone, and so does my bucket for txt. No worries.

Wifi on my home network, or for that matter external hotspots just works.

And I got the firmware update from Nokia's site. Not hard to do. The purple cast on photos is now gone. Didn't notice much else that changed.

Posted by: George Knighton

One of my work mates has an E71x, while I have had an E71-2 for quite some time.

Playing with the devices side by side, I have to say that I continue to have a clear preference for the E71-2, and my work mate who has the E71x also prefers the E71-2.

But it's hard to beat the E71x at the upgrade price of $99. I think that's the big point for most people...after realising the E71x can be had for $99, it's hard to justify the price of a brand new E71-2 now that the E71x is out.

The only thing I can see that the E71x does that the E71-2 will not has to do with AT&T's proprietary multimedia site, the site that gives you streaming videos of television programmes and other media. You can only access that site from an approved AT&T device, as far as I know, and it cannot be accessed from my E71-2.

Email seems to work just as well on both devices.

Speed of downloads, and the ability to connect to 3G and 3.5G arrays is the same with both devices. Repeated testing at dslreports.com/mspeed does not show much of a difference between the E71-2 and E71x.

As far as which data plan you pick, you will have the same service, access and speed with any data plan, except that with the E71-2 you might not be able to easily access proprietary AT&T media sites. Most people opting for unbranded devices are the kinds of people who will not really be interested in this kind of proprietary media.

As far as what kind of conversation to have with AT&T, it doesn't really matter, provided you are interested in being completely honest. As soon as you let them know that it is a Nokia E71-2, they will tell you that to get the full range of services you will have to buy a PDA plan..blah..blah..blah.

This isn't really the service representative's fault. They are trained to truly believe that you need the PDA plans if you are using a PDA, in order to get the full range of services.

If you already have an AT&T regular phone like a V9, or something like that which will have the full range of data/media services on it, then really all you have to do is switch the SIM to your E71-2 and the AT&T system won't automatically see it as a PDA. But if you call in for a new plan, then you're going to tell them it's an E71-2, and they will guide you to the PDA plans.

Posted by: Maeldun

The big difference I note it one is unlocked and the other is not

. Depends on your preference, the being locked part does not bother me right now, also I favor the camera of the e71x over the e71-2.

Posted by: gdart

The E71x costs $360. more over a two year contract period. ($15. price difference X 24 months) ATT just thinks any device with a full keyboard is a pda. And they want more @ month for that.

Posted by: macintoshcx

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdart

The E71x costs $360. more over a two year contract period. ($15. price difference X 24 months) ATT just thinks any device with a full keyboard is a pda. And they want more @ month for that.

People always forget to factor in the higher price of a unlocked phone, went you do that the prices are a lot closer.

Nokia N71 $300 at Dell
ATT plan: Voice $40.00 + Data $15.00

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71= $1620

Nokia N71 $100 at best buy
ATT plan: Voice $40.00 + Data $30.00

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71= $1780

it only a $160 different over 2 years or $6.66 per month

Posted by: RYOBI

Quote:

Originally Posted by macintoshcx

I'm assuming you mean E71 and not N71?

Anyway, I pay $10 a month for data. I have the unlimited family text plan. That's $480 in savings over a 24 month period over the E71x. Also, you forgot to factor in the resale value of the E71-2. The E71x will fetch far less than an unlocked/unbranded E71-2.

We have a winner...... LOL

Posted by: macintoshcx

My bad not the n71 but the e71. The $10 data is only if you have the family plan which everyone does not have. How do you get $480?

Nokia e71 $300 at Dell
ATT plan: Voice $40.00 + Data $15.00
possible resale value after 24 months = $150

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71 - possible resale value = $1470

Nokia e71x $100 at best buy
ATT plan: Voice $40.00 + Data $30.00
possible resale value after 24 months = $100

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71x - possible resale value = $1680

it only a $210 different over 2 years or $8.75 per month

If you do it with the family plan

Nokia e71 $300 at Dell
ATT plan: Voice $60.00 + Data $10.00 + $30 family unlimited text
possible resale value after 24 months = $150

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71 - possible resale value = $2550

Nokia e71x $100 at best buy
ATT plan: Voice $60.00 + Data $30.00 + $30 family unlimited text
possible resale value after 24 months = $100

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71x - possible resale value = $2880

$330 different over 2 years or $13.75 per month

Posted by: momcat1

Quote:

Originally Posted by macintoshcx

People always forget to factor in the higher price of a unlocked phone, went you do that the prices are a lot closer.

Hey, mac, there's another factor that could impact the savings as well, which you did not mention. That would be taxes and surcharges. Your mileage may vary, but for instance if your service is based off an address in NY state, everything that goes through ATT billing is subjected to taxes and surcharges to the amount of roughly 24.6% each month. So if you buy E71 subsidized, you need to add that back in. If you buy an unlocked E71, you might or might not have to pay sales tax on the purchase. And even if you do, for the same NY state residence, the maximum sales tax rate would be more like 8.5%, less for some counties. Or you might not pay sales tax at all.

So please tote it up. The difference will not be as little as you calculated.

Do you work for ATT?

Posted by: macintoshcx

Quote:

Originally Posted by momcat1

I don't work for ATT. But, subsidized or unsubsidized the your monthly service rate with taxes and fees would still be the same. 450 mins is still $39.99 with an subsidized or unsubsidized phone. Because we are talking about the service not the phone.

I do understand were your coming from, if you live in California. Because they have to pay taxes on the full retail price of the subsidized phones. But, most part of the country pay taxes on the purchase price which in my example is $100 at Best Buy. So even at the highest sales tax rate ~10-11% it's only $10 more.

Example if you had to pay taxes in California

Nokia e71 $300 at Dell or Amazon
Maybe free shipping no tax
ATT plan: Voice $40.00 + Data $15.00
possible resale value after 24 months = $150

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71 - possible resale value = $1470

Full retail $300
(I don't know but I guessed around 9) Sale Tax = 9%
Nokia e71x $100 at best buy + Full retail Sale tax
ATT plan: Voice $40.00 + Data $30.00
possible resale value after 24 months = $100

24 Months: ATT plan + Nokia E71x - possible resale value = $1707

$237 different over 2 years or $9.88 per month

Posted by: macintoshcx

I understand that you do not live in California just using it as a example

Posted by: RYOBI

Quote:

Originally Posted by macintoshcx

My bad not the n71 but the e71. The $10 data is only if you have the family plan which everyone does not have. How do you get $480?

The E71, with unlimited texting, data plan is $10 a month. The E71x, with unlimited texting, the data plan is $30 a month. That comes out to $20 more a month for the E71x, times 24 months is $480.

Now, I still have the unlimited texting plan, as many do. For me, that texting plan is on my account regardless of which phone I have. So, I save $480 over a 2 year contract by using the E71-2.

Posted by: efparri

You have to factor in your cost for the Family Messaging Unlimited. The cost per line ranges from $15.00 down to $6.00 depending upon how many users are in the FamilyTalk plan. We'll presume that each user pays his share of the cost. If the phone in question is on a secondary line, the voice service costs only $9.99. The fair thing to do for calculations purposes would be to divide the voice service charge equally between each user. If one got the Family messaging, it is highly unlikely that this would be on a $40.00 voice service charge.