Nokia E72, The updated version of Nokia's QWERTY-keyboarded candybar phone includes an optical navigation key. According to Nokia vice president Ilari Nurmi, the new input method allows for "more intuitive scrolling through menus, e-mails and fast panning of images."

Swift, slim and resourceful are three words that accurately describe the new Nokia E72, which was unveiled at the Nokia Connection event in Singapore today. Nokia's latest full QWERTY smartphone brings a rich mobile email and instant messaging experience right out of the box, making it the ideal device for people that want to be productive in both their personal and professional lives. 

Building on the formula from the hugely successful Nokia E71, Nokia's best selling QWERTY device to date, this latest arrival in Nokia's Eseries family maintains essential elements of its predecessor, whilst still improving its capabilities in a number of areas.

Nokia announced its latest Eseries device - the Nokia E72. This is an updated version of the Nokia E71, which was launched a year ago. The Nokia E72 has an updated version of S60 (3rd Edition Feature Pack 2) and improved messaging software suite. There are a number of small hardware changes, including a camera upgrade to 5.0 megapixels, a tweaked keyboard layout, an Optical Navi Key (trackpad) in the centre of the D-pad, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The E72 will be available from Q3 2009 at a cost of €350 (before taxes and subsidies). Read on for more.

Key changes from the Nokia E71

• The E72 runs S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2, which gives performance (speed and battery usage), usability (middle softkey, improved multitasking, FOTA with UDP, re-arranged settings and menus) and software architecture (Open C, PIPS, WRT, wider multimedia support, security enhancements) improvements.
    
• The messaging software suite has been updated (similar to the Nokia E75). Nokia Messaging and Mail for Exchange are now fully integrated into the Messaging application and there's support for multiple email account identities. For the consumer this means a new email client (based on Nokia Messaging), push email for consumer accounts (Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, ISP) and updated Microsoft Exchange functionality. The device includes a lifetime subscription for Nokia Messaging.
  
  Additionally, Ovi Chat, Nokia's instant messaging software, is pre-installed. It is accessible via the Contacts application, includes basic location features and supports Ovi accounts, Google Chat and Yahoo Messenger.
• Upgraded version of Quickoffice (version 5.3), includes full editing mode and support for Office 2007 documents.
   
• Support for Nokia N-Gage (via soical media press release, unconfirmed - see comments).
   
• Ovi Store will be pre-installed on the Nokia E72.
   
• The layout of the bottom row of the QWERTY keyboard has been changed. With a smaller space bar, there's room for two extra keys. The bottom row now consists of: function, shift, symbol, @, space bar, ?, !,  ', Ctrl (previously: function, shift, @ space bar, ', ? and Chr). The control cluster has been redesigned, with the one touch keys made out of etched aluminium (similar to the E55). The D-pad now features a Optical Navi™ Key (optical 'track pad') for eaiser scrolling.
    
• There is a 3.5mm audio jack (previously 2.5 mm).
    
• A magnetometer (compass) has been added as a compliment to the GPS. Ovi Maps is included, along with a lifetime Explore license (pedestrian) and a trial (10 day) Drive license. The device ships with Ovi Maps version 3.0 (instead of Nokia Maps 2.0).
   
• Support for USB charging via microUSB port.
   
• The specification indicate that UPnP is supported, but it is unclear whether this would include the Home media software.
   
• Increased internal flash memory - up to 250 MB from 110 MB. Free RAM is expected to be around 80MB.
    
• Faster up and down connection speeds with support for 10.2 Mbps HSDPA and HSUPA (whether you can use these will depend on operator support).
   
• Call sound quality has been improved, with the addition of active noise cancellation.