Nokia, Microsoft dialing up comeback

LUMIA 710

Nokia is releasing a new line of Microsoft Windows 7.5 phones and, if the first-out-of-the-box Lumia 710 is any indication, the also-rans may finally be back in the smartphone race.

Microsoft, far behind Google’s Android and Apple phones, is teaming with Finnish phone maker Nokia (which has little presence in the U.S. market these days) to make a splash with a significant upgrade to Mango, the Windows operating system, on a new line of well-engineered devices.

The Lumia 710 — priced at $49 with a two-year contract from T-Mobile and a $50 mail-in rebate — is a good way to introduce Windows mobile to those who haven’t seen it and are looking for a starter smartphone.

What makes Windows phones different is the use of tiles, instead of icons, that function like widgets displaying live data. For example, the “People” tile taps into social networks, letting you combine contacts in one place without having to jump between Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It’s slick, and you can easily post messages from your “Me” tile.

The interface is not just easy to navigate, but has a clean, clear look. Email is easy to set up and messages are grouped in useful ways.

There are some similarities to Android, such as Nokia Drive, which gives you turn-by-turn voiced driving directions, Local Scout that finds nearby shops and restaurants and Bing voice search. But there are Microsoft-centered widgets, such as direct connection to Xbox Live so you can game or get access to a full version of Office.

This is an entry-level smartphone, so don’t expect a super-sharp HD display, but the 3.7-inch, 800-by-600-pixel screen works well with its boosted-up contrast. The 4.4-ounce phone feels solid and with rounded edges fits well in the hand.

Phone call clarity is clear. Web browsing via Internet Explorer 9 works well, although loading Web pages is a little slow on the T-Mobile network compared to Verizon Wireless and AT&T’s LTE 4G networks. The 5-megapixel camera takes good pictures. Music and video playback are decent; you can connect to Microsoft’s Zune store and download unlimited tracks for $10 a month.

There are a few downsides. The three physical buttons that control the Lumia 710 are stiff, and the phone has only 8 gigabytes of internal memory which fills up fast, and there’s no slot for a micro-SD card.

Overall the Lumia 710 is a solid starter smartphone that deserves to draw more attention to the Windows operating system.

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