Steve Glendinning

I’ve had an Orange Samsung i200 (running Windows Mobile 6.1) for just over a week now, and I have to say I like it! It’s noticeably more responsive than the Nokia N73 it replaced (TBH i think that mostly illustrates how sluggish the N73 was), and I’ve *nearly* got used to the different keypad. Honestly, why do all the different manufacturers use a different key for “space”?!

Being a Windows Mobile handset, it came loaded with all the expected Microsoft applications… except one! It seems Orange have decided to remove the MSN Messenger client, presumably because they’re worried it’ll dent their extremely profitable SMS revenue. And Microsoft no longer makes the client available for download (”ask your operator for MSN access”).

After several hours of trawling through forums, I found the nice chaps at xda-developers have many builds of the mobile msn client available for download (although you need to register to get access). Most are for the full PocketPC (PDA) OS, but the file attached to post #202 works on SmartPhones like the i200.

As expected, Pocket Outlook’s Microsoft Exchange synchronisation works seamlessly, so I now have real-time push email, contacts and calendar sync. And it’s actually usable as a phone too!

I have a fully fitted Nokia car kit (CARK-126) which I originally used with a Nokia 6230, and later a 6230i. It has a pop-port connection, as does my new N73, so in theory I should be able to convert it for an N73 with a straightforward cradle swap. Nokia don’t make it quite that simple.

Nokia don’t make a cradle specifically for the N73. I have no idea why, one of the selling points of Nokia was always their strong car kit support.

After a quick google I found this post on the Nokia forums, where one of the posters states that the CR-28 holder fits the N73 perfectly. I’m not sure that following the advice of a single unknown poster on a forum is a good idea but I ordered one anyway. It’s arrived now (damn postal strikes!) and the phone fits perfectly.

On the same Nokia forum post, “dannyboy” the car kit specialist says that the N73 doesn’t work with the CARK-126. I’ve tried it and for the most part it works fine. The radio mute function doesn’t mute the radio at all any more, but for me this is a minor annoyance (and certainly not worth replacing the entire car kit for). I think “dannyboy” was trying to sell someone a replacement car kit…

So in summary I can confirm that my Nokia N73 works fine with a CARK-126 car kit and a CR-28 cradle.

Update 16/10/2007: The CR-28 holder is available to buy from Amazon here:

Nokia have released an updated version of their Mail For Exchange application which officially supports the N73. The 1.5 version explicitly blocked installation on N73, while the older 1.3 release worked but was unsupported.

If you run a Microsoft Exchange server, this is a must-have application as it enables seamless sync of contacts and calendar as well as full push email. And it’s completely free.

The e-series blog and Darla Mack have more information on the release and its new features, and you can download it here: http://businesssoftware.nokia.com/mail_for_exchange_downloads.php