This rumor's got more holes than swiss, but stranger things have happened, so it'll be an interesting scoop to keep an eye on nonetheless. A tipster to
Boy Genius Report claims that Nokia is working on a "swiveling
E71-type handset" for -- get this -- Verizon, of all carriers, featuring a full QWERTY keyboard and running
Series 40. Judging from the mockup here, that sorta puts it in the same vein as the
Sidekick -- a form factor most carriers and manufacturers (especially Nokia) have avoided. Given that Espoo's still basically dipping its toes in the CDMA waters -- and the fact that a Verizon device running Series 40 proper seems implausible at best -- we're going to be shocked if this thing sees the light of day. Pleasantly surprised, yes, but still shocked.
Update: Since originally running this story, we've been contacted by a number of individuals who claim to have seen this phone in person;
Boy Genius Report also emphatically defends the rumors legitimacy, so we're more inclined to think it's real. (Of course, that doesn't make it any less crazy.)
posted Apr 13th 2009 12:09PM
I WANT TO BELIEVE
Wow here we go again Verizon, another fail, i hope this isn't true........if this keeps happening, i might just have to switch back to Sprint.......
I wish nokia would concentrate on bringing the N97 to my carrier instead of playng around with this kind of excrement
Could Nokia just be releasing this http://www.unwiredview.com/2007/11/21/nokia-is-thinking-about-its-own-sidekick/
Sorry but S40 with qwerty.. what? And to Verizon. Sounds really wierd to me.
I did a focus group for Nokia back in September '08 and this was one of the devices they showed us along with the 7205 Intrigue. Both phones were dummy prototypes at the time. I can assure you it's real though. They also showed us the E75 in AT&T branding. Love it or hate it this phone DOES exist.
By the time this phone is announced w/ a date and price it will be irrelevant. ty verizon.