The FCC has now given the okay to a similar handset, the E62. This model is meant for those who prefer to receive their messages at slower pace and not shell out for an expensive 3G monthly data plan. So while the E62 looks a lot like the E61, it lacks cellular broadband and Wi-Fi wireless. You still get Bluetooth for connecting to headsets, printers and desktop computers and infrared, however.

It also seems to lack support for the broad range for push e-mail options of the other ESeries communicator, such as BlackBerry Connect, Seven Mobile Mail & Always-On Mail, and Visto Mobile. The QWERTY thumb-keyboard is slightly different as well, adding a My Own button; a user-configurable shortcut key found in Series 80 smartphones like the Nokia 9500 and 9300.

There's also no Pop-Port. Found in many higher-end Nokia phones, a Pop-Port is a non-standard interface that incorporates several functions. Rather, the E62 offers both a mini USB port and 2.5 millimeter headset jack, which makes more sense for a device like this; one that appears headed toward mass market consumption, unlike the enterprise-centric E61.

All else being equal, the E61 should share the following features with its E62 sibling: a quad-band GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900) radio, four-way joystick, wide 320 x 240-pixel resolution, 16 million color screen, 75 MB of RAM and a miniSD slot. It'll weigh around 5.1 ounces (144 grams) and measure about 4.6 x 2.7 x 0.55 inches (117 x 69.7 x 14 millimeters).

As with the E61, it is not known what carrier(s) will deliver the E62 in the U.S., exactly when, or for how much. When it happens, which should be soon, the E61 will mostly likely be considerably cheaper than the E61.

For more information, see the user manual on the FCC Web site.