even at the pop-port ages, half nokia phones did have other type of ports (or didn't have a port at all). Anyway pop-port does provide backward compatibility only with your usb cable. IR provides communication with a variety of older devices as well as the possibility to really exploit the transmitting function (record new remotes on the fly)

Anyway, if it is not for communication why is that port even there? Controlling your tv isn't probably what the developers were thinking, it's to awkward to point that side of the device to the TV and the range is too short.
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Pattaya Heights Condos