Want to change how your Nokia E71 looks? Why not try a different colored keypad or faceplate? Here are photos and instructions which show you how you can do it yourself. Even though it’s simple, I have to warn you to only try this if you are prepared to risk ending up with a broken phone.
For the extra faceplates and spare parts, many people seem to like CNN.CN. They include the Nokia E71’s faceplate, bottom cover and even a whole body replacement. The instructions below will show you how to remove just the faceplate and bottom cover.
I purposely omit the instructions that will enable you disassemble the phone further because the photos just look plain scary.
Steps
Release battery cover.
Remove battery cover.
Unscrew four T4+ screws.
Open the two clips.
Do the same on the other side.
Lift the bottom of top cover NOT the bottom cover!
Remove the top cover as shown.
Press out the qwerty keypad.
Remove bottom cover.
Result
That’s it! Here’s a sample result from HoFo member rapidstar who replaced the keypad on his Grey Nokia E71 to white.
Trying it?
So now that you know how to do it… are you willing to open up your Nokia E71 to change its looks?
I've read a lot of articles from Nokia about their plan to create segmentation in the mobile phone market as part of their strategy but I didn't thought it would be as close as E55 and E52 that has identical features and design except for the keypad were E55 had a QWERTY while E52 has the traditional T9 pad. Segmentation was drawn down only to individual consumers preference to which keypad suited them best, another first from the worlds leader in mobile phone. This is a good move by Nokia since consumers had varied taste and the idea of giving them what they like and what they want would mean higher sales and more solid support that would insure the companies top spot in the next few years. Its the notion of being heard and understood that matters to many and Nokia just showed this.
This is a big game changer on my part since I can now finalize my next phone upgrade zeroing on N97 white version (since I have N82 black at the moment, so it will be a black and white team up) alone and nothing else. You might have notice the heartbreak I have when early reports came in about N97's high tagged price, that's because I want the device so badly and putting a higher price stake on it destroys that dream and so are the millions of Nokia N97 fans all over the world. I would describe it as a burst of criticism pouring into Nokia's world that time from all fronts, Nokia stout supporters or not and that may have send a strong signal for them to finalize the price point to the minimum. I even send Twitter post to Nokia Conversations several times asking them to reconsider the price. Well, everything paid of and now I can own the device with no apprehension.
The phone must offer something different, could either be in User Interface (UI), Form Factor or Features and best of all it must be Affordable and E75 just fits to the description. The phone has a QWERTY, keyboard that I have been wanting ever since the E71 was introduce being a heavy texter myself, plus the fact that it is a side slider, form factor than I have been craving also in contrast to N82's candybar. UI, the phone has an S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 which of course offer new experience while Feature wise, it has a Quick Office editing feature as well as other Email and connectivity feature way different to N82. The phone is also compatible with SU-33W, Nokia's Mobile TV Receiver accessory which would mean a possibility of unlimited TV viewing and entertainment anytime, anywhere, on the go. I have always been wanting to own a mobile TV device ever since the N92 days being a TV freak myself and this is a realization of that desire, thought this accessory will be brought separately but I don't care, as long as I have TV entertainment anytime I wanted to. This phone is also compatible with N-Gage games therefore I could play my Reset Generation. A total entertainment package phone.
