Nokia E6 review

Maps

When it comes to maps and satellite navigation, the Nokia E6 comes pre-loaded with Ovi Maps with free Navteq-based loadable global maps, drive and walk voice navigation, speed limit and safety camera warners and traffic information.

If used with Assisted GPS, Wi-FI/ network and network-based positioning methods enabled, along with the Integrated GPS positioning method, location information is provided within a couple of seconds.

With only the Integrated GPS positioning method enabled, to minimise data costs, a GPS fix can take minutes. This is because the GPS system has to search through the global satellite list to find the ones in range to provide position. It's a real problem on Nokia phones, namely because you can turn off the assisted element of the GPS - which you won't need to do should you have any kind of data plan.

As well as providing mapping and satellite navigation, Ovi Maps provides travel guides and check-in capability to many different geo-locational social networks including Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare.

Apps

The Nokia E6 comes loaded with a large selection of pre-installed apps. Many of the apps show the phone's business-minded credentials again.

File Manager does what it says on the tin, Zip creates zip files just like a computer would, Recorder is a simple Dictaphone app, Msg Reader reads texts messages aloud to you and F-Secure is an antivirus, firewall and theft protection app.

Calendar enables you to manage multiple calendars and keep them synchronised with the cloud. Meeting requests can be received and accepted via a text message or email, and meetings can have locations linked to them which can be displayed on Ovi Maps.

Our only frustration is that when meetings have locations linked, a "drive to location" prompt isn't presented when the alarm triggers.

On top of these, the Nokia E6 comes with a Quickoffice app, a Microsoft-compatible mobile client capable of reading, writing and modifying Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint files. Adobe Acrobat is also on board to open PDFs.

For international professionals, Dictionary is a handy multi-lingual dictionary and translator app, while Traveler provides weather, currency conversion and flight information.

In terms of entertainment, music offerings include the Music Player, FM Radio, Ovi Music Store link and a link to Shazam, for music identification, purchasing, playing and a social app. Here and Now is a location-based app that provides information about movies, restaurants and events in your local area.

The main thing you may note is that there are no games on the E6, which further clarifies its target market, although even business people need to relax sometimes. Further apps can be downloaded from the Ovi Store, however, and the range is acceptable without being stellar.