13th February 2006
At first glance the Nokia 6136 looks like another midrange Nokia clamshell, but this particular phone has a unique twist - if has built in wireless ethernet, and can support UMA (Unlicenced Mobile Access) VOIP (Voice Over IP) calls.
This all sounds pretty complex - but it means that the Nokia 6136 can make very low cost calls over fixed cost broadband connections, in addition to standard mobile phone calls. So, it's possible to use the Nokia 6136 for all calls, not just mobile ones.
We've seen roughly similar technology before, with the Motorola V560 phone running on BT Fusion, but that's a Bluetooth based system where the Nokia 6136 uses a superior WiFi-based technology.
As with the Motorola phone, it only makes sense for a mobile operator to offer a UMA handset such as this if they also offer broadband access. Initially then, one of the first companies to take up the Nokia 6136 will be Orange who also operate the Wanadoo internet service provider. This use of UMA technology allows operators such as Orange to get one over on the competition - not all mobile operators also have a fixed line/broadband business.
The Nokia 6136 is based on the Nokia 6125 handset, so it features a basic 128x160 pixel display, 1.3 megapixel camera, expandable memory and a multimedia player - but surprisingly no Bluetooth. We didn't really like the 6125, and as a mobile phone the Nokia 6136 really doesn't have much to offer apart from UMA support - but the UMA support itself is a strong selling point if you want the flexibility it offers.
Nokia say that the 6136 should be available from Q2 2006.
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