The E72 reborn? T-Mobile launches the Nokia E73 Mode

Well, the leak proved to be true after all. T-Mobile just launched the Nokia E73 Mode in the US as expected, effectively replacing the E72 on top of the brand’s business phone ladder—at least for the US market. It’s still unclear if this will ever be released outside of T-Mobile’s network, and truth be told, we’re still not sure if this is necessarily better than the E72. Why? Because, save for a few obvious cosmetic changes, the specs say that the E73 Mode is practically identical to the older E72.

First, the highlights: It’s a business phone that’s packed with support for multiple email servers (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync client, IBM Lotus Traveler), productivity software (QuickOffice, Adobe PDF Manager), and connectivity options (3G/HSPA, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS) so your biz keeps moving even when you’re out of the office. It’s also preinstalled with Ovi Maps with free turn-by-turn navigation and the Lonely Planet guide, plus the option to add more apps via the Ovi Store.

The rest of the phone’s features include a 5MP camera with LED flash, microSD card slot for storage, and a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 screen—all running on a Symbian S60 3rd edition operating system, and all of which you can find on the E72. It does offer the option to make calls through a Wi-fi connection that you can find at home or through any of T-Mo’s public access points. On the other hand, the E72 comes in purple… so we’re still on the fence.

In case you’re looking to “upgrade” to Nokia’s newest biz-mobile, the E73 will be available through T-Mobile for $70 with a two-year deal on June 16th.