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Nokia graced us with a sneak preview of the Nokia 9300 Smartphone, a handset that isn't slated to ship in the United States until July but is already available in Europe. Actually, the prototype we received was the European model.

The U.S. version of this tri-mode phone will be GSM/GPRS (900/1800/1900 MHz), but we tested the GSM/GPRS (850/1800/1900 MHz) United Kingdom version. Nokia hasn't announced what carriers will sell the phone, however. When it does ship, the device will also be capable of exchanging data and voice over 3G. Voice calls were clear and Web surfing worked well too during testing.

Meant for mobile executives, the 9300 appears bland and boxy at first glance, hiding all its advanced features inside a charmless silver exterior. The lack of pizzazz will be all too familiar to those used to Nokia phones, although this version is nicely more compact than other Communicator models by Nokia.

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(Note that this model is called the 9300 Smartphone, not the 9300 Communicator, a decision that probably had everything to do with marketing.)

At first glace, the 9300 looks like any ordinary candy bar-style phone—a slightly large one. But - surprise - it's a clamshell phone that folds open lengthwise to reveal a QWERTY thumb-operated keyboard and a brightly lit 640 x 200 pixel TFT display with 65,536 colors.

While we'd take a palmOne Treo 650 any day on style alone, with the 9300 Nokia did a great job of cleverly integrating a PDA into a traditional phone form.

Specs
The 9300's specs are squarely aimed at the executive market, so much so even its deficiencies work to its advantage. The phone doesn't have a camera built in, which is strange when even low-priced bargain phones have them nowadays.

It's certainly intentional, however. Many phones for this market lack cameras (or at least give you an option) because executives working in high-security environments can't carry cameras with them.

The 9300 is the smallest device in Nokia's Communicator series ever, even if it is labled Smartphone. It measures 5.2 x 2.0 x .8 inches and weighs a solid 5.9 ounces compared to 5.8 x 2.24 x 0.9 inches and 7.83 ounces for Nokia's new regualr-size 9500 Communicator. The smartphone runs on Nokia's Series 80 platform built on top of Symbian OS version 7.0.


9300 Communicator

Users can connect with IMAP4, POP3, SMTP and BlackBerry Connect e-mail accounts. It also has Bluetooth and Infrared built in. The only thing missing is Wi-Fi (available in the full-size 9500), its one serious omission. Nokia told us at CTIA in March that 3G support was implemented as an alternative to Wi-Fi.

With 80 MB of storage on board and another 128 MB in the included memory card, you'll find plenty of room to replicate your entire e-mail database. Nokia wouldn't clue us in to what processor chip or speed the 9300 users. Rumors say it runs at 150MHz, however. We don't know if that's true, but it did often seem sluggish in our testing.

Keyboard
We found 9300's physical design a little hard to get used to, but several people we showed it to flipped for the smartphone. So it will certainly find fans. The keyboard is so widely spaced, that you might at first think that you can touch type on it, but it's too cramped for that. Besides, the lack of key travel makes the keys awkward to push with anything but thumbs.

It's definitely a thumb keyboard, but the extra-wide spacing actually makes it a bit harder to use than most other thumb keyboards. On the keyboard's top row you'll find function keys to let you quickly access your desktop, phone, messages, Web browser, contacts, documents, and calendar. The last button is labeled "My own" and is customizable. Use it to open whatever app you turn to the most.

On the bottom of the keyboard, designers shifted some things around to make room for special keys like scroll arrows, a Bluetooth key and an Infrared key. As a result, the comma and period keys have been shifted to the left, an adjustment that we didn't like.

Navigation
At the bottom right there's a multi-directional joystick-like button that lets you either move a cursor on the screen or highlight a folder to open, depending on which controls are available. Press the button to select what you've chosen. Be careful, because it's hard to press the button without making the cursor jump forward.

Finally, four buttons line the right side of the 9300's screen, letting you quickly select from contextual commands. What you'll find there depends on what application you have open. In the main desktop view, for example, the buttons let you quickly open a folder or write a note.

While this all seems convenient, we sometimes felt we were suffering convenience overload. Going from the keyboard to the quick buttons on top requires shifting your whole hand, which is awkward. Using the directional buttons along the bottom means holding the 9300 by the bottom edge only, which feels

Front View

Front View, Flipped Open

Rear view

insubstantial.

Still, there's a lot to be said for not having to whip out a stylus every time you want to open an application or write a letter, since that motion is a lot more of an interruption than shifting the hand.

Applications
The review model we received didn't have the 9300's final software lineup, but we were told that it was close to the final application bundle. On the desktop, apps are organized into folders with names like Personal, Office, and Media. There's also a tutorial, an Instant Message (IM) client and a setting wizard on there.

The Office folder contains an Acrobat Reader, document editor, file manager, presentation viewer and a currency converter (which unfortunately can't be automatically updated with currency rates online; you'll need to do it by hand). Office tools are all compatible with Microsoft Office, so you'll be able to view and edit all your standard documents. The Media folder includes a mini version of the RealPlayer as well as a photo viewer, MP3 player, and voice recorder.

If you'd like to add more software to your 9300, go to Nokia's Web site to download PDF catalogs of either consumer or enterprise applications.

To get files or media into your 9300, you'll use the desktop suite that comes on a bundled CD. The suite contains a variety of tools for different tasks, including ones for synchronizing personal information management (PIM) data and for adding songs or images. We found them all fairly easy to use. There's a Web browser too, of course.

Box
Along with the smartphone itself, the package contains an earbud headset, a 128MB storage card, the installation CD, and a comprehensive printed manual that explains all the tasks you can do with the 9300. You won't get a protective case, and even though the phone feels like it could withstand a multistory drop, you might want to make that your first purchase.

While it won’t win any beauty contests, the 9300 is a decent choice for executives who value communication tools over eye-candy. If you prefer the Symbian OS and never want to use a stylus again, take a look.

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