Nokia Email Beta 3: Still Needs Work
After all the fits and starts over the weekend with their backend server upgrade, my comrades in the Software and Services at Nokia got Nokia Email Beta 3 rolled out. It’s certainly an improvement, but it’s also got some room for improvement as well. I installed it both on my shiny new Nokia N96 and the trusty Nokia E61i to give it a workout.
From a functionality standpoint, it seems about the same, though they did add support for S60 3rd Edition FP2 devices and add the ability to support up to 6 different email accounts! I can confirm that both handsets handle Mail for Exchange and Nokia Email together, though I did find a bug with that support that be summed up in the following screenshot:
However, the Nokia Email service still has some issues. One usability thing I noticed right away on both the N96 and the E61i was the amount of time it took to actually enter the inbox on both handsets. Huge FAIL and work should be done to optimize that.
The other thing which I find absolutely irritating is there is no support for Access Point Groups either that existed in the older E series devices or in the new FP2 devices! Considering I roam between WiFi access points and the mobile phone network frequently, I’d like the service to use Access Point Groups. (Mail for Exchange also needs this support, to)
Ok, one more thing: There is no middle ground between syncing once an hour and always. At least Mail for Exchange allows me to sync every 15 minutes. Can we get support for more frequently syncing (short of always-on push) into Nokia Email?
One can always grouse about lack of enterprise mailbox support as well. Perhaps that can be a feature that will be charged for in the future?
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Tags: Mail for Exchange, nokia, nokia email, Nokia N96 Fnord
Comment by spg
for the last ten years good value voucher prepaid plans have appeared in the USA; but only for very short time periods before they disappear. for example i use a verizon prepaid phone agreement from eight years ago that i only pay 0.06 cents per minute on; the plan existed for less than six months before it was cut. it also had completely free unlimited data when i first signed up; that disappeared in less than 90 days(they eliminated data altogether for a few years on prepaid. unlike with voice the carriers have not grandfathered in data. for example they have kept me on the same voice minute rate even though they shut down my data access. this has been pretty typical of all the major carriers. they let you keep whatever voice plan you had at sign up indefinably; but use there rights in the TOS to change your data terms.
spg
p.s. i wonder how much the recent publicity about using prepaid medianet with USB dongles and tethering has prompted AT&T’s decision?
Comment by Marc
I was only waiting to see if an iPhone 3G 32gb was on the horizon…If AT&T removes their $20.00/month Unlimited data ‘Go Phone’ prepaid option (and does not offer a suitable alternative in its place) I’ll scratch getting an iPhone 3G altogether.
During these uncertain financial times, you’d think that corporations would be more concerned with losing/shunning customers. You could argue that prepaid customers are seen as 2nd class/undesireable, but I see more customers that were previously ‘contract’ customers now going prepaid or removing cell service from their list of monthly charges.
I know (from your blog) Europe is ahead of the US in prepaid data offerings.
I cannot believe I cannot find an inexpensive prepaid plan (under 30.00) that would allow me to use a cell handset with tether option merely to satisfy my minimal mobile net needs of checking email and wind reports (no downloading of big files or streaming either)
Comment by spg
Marc,
if your needs are as minimal as email and wind reports you may be able to get by fine with the 1mb(only $5/month) or 5mb($10/month) plans still to be offered. its the heavier users who are being pushed aside here.
Comment by Marc
I was hoping it was 1gb & 5gb you were referring to. I would not need any voice with my minimal data needs prepaid plan. I wonder if I can run an app on my laptop to monitor my avg. internet consumption to get an idea of how much I would be downloading?
Comment by PhoneBoy
Until average consumers revolt against 2 year contracts in large enough numbers, this is the way it’s going to be in North America: prepaid will always be second-class. The carriers like contracts because it creates a predictable revenue stream.
However, it will be interesting to see how Xohm (the Sprint WiMAX service) will play into prepaid data decisions. Assuming they stick with the $25/mo plans I’ve heard reported (no contract, even), that could put the necessary pressure to not only offer prepaid data, but do so at a lower price.
Comment by spg
it will also be interesting to see how Xohm develops in terms being included in laptops, etc. will it be used more on a subscription basis or perhaps more just as needed for a single session at a time; similar to how many people use WiFi hotspots at airport, hotels, etc. for example i have access to free wifi the majority of the time; it would be nice to be able to pay a small fee for an hour or two of Xohm usage on those rare occasions when i need to use a laptop and nothing free and open is available.