2006 Nokia 705NK (N73)

Softbank's first quad-band GSM device

	3G Network	N/A Mobile TV	NFC None
	N/A Biometry	3.2 Megapixel	N/A Optical Zoom
	167ppi 240 x 320px	2.4" Screen Size	TFT LCD Type

It's the year 2006 #pastfuturetechnology.

Whilst Nokia is the king of mobile in the GSM world, the Japanese aren't familiar with many of its European devices, since no GSM networks exist in Japan. Nokia's 3G handsets would finally be able to tap into this market, and the N73 would be one of them.

Vodafone KK & NTT Docomo stocked a number of popular Nokia 3G handsets, starting with the 6630. These typically got their own network names in Japan, and so the N73 became the Nokia 705NK on SoftBank's network, and the 6630 the NM850iG on NTT Docomo. The N73 would be Softbank's first quad-band GSM roaming device, ideal for travellers and business people aiming for the Americas.

I had personally upgraded to the N73 from the Sharp 903SH for the simple reason that Nokia's S60 Symbian OS provided very capable smartphone abilities with App support. For that however, I had to trade in a superb mobile camera for the N73's rather average shooter. And yet I was willing to give it a go.

In my own experience, Nokia's interpretation of a "smartphone" was very exciting. The possibilities of adding on-demand services and features to a phone were endless, as iPhone would eventually prove to the world. And still, Nokia never quite lived up to the Japanese standard in my view, and so I abandoned Nokia for Sony Ericsson and eventually iPhone.

Holding this dear little phone today still fills me with a little bit of awe however, as I'm sure many of you would agree.

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