Setting Up New Nokia Phone – A Guide for Newbies

December 25th, 2008 • Mark Guim • Filed Under •

So you just got a new Nokia phone. We’ve got the first steps and recommendations for your new shiny toy, whether it is a gift from yourself or a loved one. If you’re a Nokia veteran, send a link to this post to the newbie on your holiday list.

Newbies

Check Firmware

The first thing you need to do before doing anything is check for firmware updates. The latest phones let you do the upgrades over the air, but if it’s not available, you’ll need to run Nokia Software Updater.

Methods:

Connect With Computer

I am a Mac user, so I am more familiar with using my phone with a Mac. If you’re a PC user and think I need to add more info, please comment.

PC Users – If you do not already have Nokia PC Suite, it’s time to set that up. It is a free PC software product that allows you to connect your Nokia device to a PC and access mobile content as if the device and the PC were one.

Mac users unfortunately do not have the convenience of having a “Mac Suite,” but Nokia is kind enough to give us some tools. To synchronize data between a Mac and Nokia phone, you’ll need an iSync plugin which can be downloaded at nokia.com/mac. To transfer music, photos, games, and more, you’ll need to install Nokia Multimedia transfer.

I prefer to send files between my phone and Macbook using bluetooth. After pairing and authorizing the connection once, it’s easy as right-clicking a file then “send to bluetooth device,” whenever I need to send files to the phone.

Maps

If your Nokia phone came with Nokia Maps, you’ll want to download your local map files into your phone so that it loads up faster. You need to install Nokia Map Loader. It comes in PC and Mac versions.

Install Apps

It’s time to install some applications for your phone. Read about my top 10 apps to install and make sure to read the comments for readers’ recommendations too.

Guides

The steps above are what I believe the first few things you need to get things rolling. There are always new apps to be found and cool things to do with our phones so make sure you navigate around the blog especially the Nokia blog guides and videoblog sections. Some of my favorites are:

More Tips

If you’re a long-time Nokia user already, are there more tips you think the newbies should know? Let us know!

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  • LennyD
    PC suite, or Ovi Suite?

    OK so I am currently hookin up my E71-2 to my laptop via usb and nokia PC Suite, but just received a file to load OVI Suite, and am not sure what I should be doing.

    From what I thought these programs did the same basic things, and just for different phones. I am not a veteran of this stuff so I wanted to be sure that I needed both, or to repalace the PC with the Ovi before I go and download the Ovi suite.

    Thanks in advance for any comments!!
  • Will Ib
    some of the navigation keys have stopped working on my nokia 6220 - How do you open up a Nokia 6220 to clean the keys?
  • ME
    "I prefer to send files between my phone and Macbook using bluetooth."

    Have you tried SymSMB for transferring files wirelessly between your phone and computer? Bluetooth is great for smaller files, but SymSMB rocks when you have larger files or a large number of files and still don't want to hook up the cables.
  • @ME, Thanks for the tip. I'll try it out.
  • Colin Small
    Well I just broke down and ordered the N85 from Nokia. It was interesting I was offered a second year warranty for 49 dollars.
  • Colin Small
    Mark, what phone are you using? The N85? I am trying to pick a device between the N85, E71 and maybe a NAM 5800 if they are coming soon?

    What device makes you happy currently?
  • @Colin Small, I currently use the N85 or E71 depending on what I'll be doing that day. Did you get your N85 yet? Let me know what you think.
  • I would also suggest checking out Ovi (http://ovi.com) and setting up an account on there if you plan on sharing/synchronizing data with your phone. I know when I first got my phone it was way easier to enter in my contacts on the site and then sync up my phone with my ovi account. As opposed to the traditional method of entering them in by hand on the handset. I also use ovi's image sharing almost daily whenever I find something of interest I want to share with my friends.
  • @Aaron, thanks for the recommendation. I use goosync to synchronize my phone calendar with ical and google. Ovi sounds like a good way to backup my contacts.
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