CTIA 2007 Predictions
Other than talking about the N75, Olly and I have been conversing about CTIA, which is in Orlando, FL this year on March 27-29th. I’ve got some predictions as to what we might see from Nokia out there. S60 will not have a booth, but there’ll be plenty of that crowd there, along with Symbian and Nokia both having their own booth.
Here’s my predictions and the reasoning - I think we’re going to see a handful of N-series devices from Nokia. I think that because 3GSM was 3 new E-series and 2 non-"series". Though I suppose you could point to the N95 and N76 as announced but not released, but I think we’re going to see 2 new N-series and 2 new non-"series". Here’s the skinny on those:
1. One that we already know is the 5700 XpressMusic phone. Personally I think this is going to be an S40 non-smartphone device, somewhere slightly higher ranking than the recently launched 5300.
I think we’ll finally see some of the fruits of this design/research center in California. I’m predicting that we’ll see 2 US 3G phones at CTIA, one for Cingular and one for T-mobile.
2.. One phone will be a swivel gaming phone, with the d-pad and buttons on the top, and the numpad to swivel out. Kinda like the SE S710a, only optimized for gaming.
3. One will be another slider, similar to the N80, only with US 3G and a CZ lens.
4. The last will be a candybar focused on gaming. Really similar to the N73, but with built-in GPS and 3D acceleration.
I think at least one of the S60 devices will have GPS, if not 2 of them. I think this is where we’re going to find out what Nokia T-mobile launches their 3G service with.
One thing that I think would be cool (but I’m not necessarily predicting it) is a device with UMTS 850, 1700, 1900, 2100, so that it could work on EITHER T-Mobile or Cingular’s 3G service. This is dependent on where they each have their licenses. If T-mobile got licenses where Cingular doesn’t have enough spectrum, then this could be a big hit, specifically for a launch device. I don’t know enough about the recent auction to say for sure, though.
What do you think? Think I’ve got too many devices? Think I’m dead wrong?
pretty optimistic that we see some stuff, but i have no clue what it’s about .. i just wanna see juicy new N-Series Multimedia stuff
.. 5700 could be realistic, but i don’t really care about, as i don’t expect it as a symbian phone ..
BB
I am not sure if understand exactly what you mean by #2.. I mean the bit where you mention “numpad to swivel out”.
Would be surprised if we saw that many, in particular N-series ones, unless they are indeed US market oriented.
Like the Sony S710a, only a Nokia. Where you have the d-pad and softkeys on the face of the phone, and the numberpad swivels out.
Oh ok, like the Nokia 7370 (I think that’s the number) but bigger.. hmm. So do you guys have some real info on this (seen it, been told about it by reliable sources) or is this pure speculation/guesses/wishes? All week last week Nokia guys were repeating the mantra “there will be no N-Gage hardware”.. would be suprising if they would announce it this soon.
It’s pure speculation at this point. Though so was the iPhone…
I’m thinking:
~ 6126 for Cingular with payment tech ready to launch
~ 5700
~ One S60 w/EDGE and wi-fi (no North American 3g because of a certain San Diego based patent troll)
~ One new midrange flip for T-Mobile
As you can tell, my expectations are somewhat low right about now.
I am on Cingular, so a 6126 would be nice, a good basic phone for my wife
I am still hoping N75 will come out soon for myself…
Not.
Going.
To.
Happen.
No new N-Series devices coming at CTIA, sorry. You’ll get more of the same in the big tent at CES - N76 preview, N95 hype. Maybe some new E-Series or Communicator action, and that new Music Xpress. But no new N-Series.