Nokia Nails It with Affordable Smartphones
Nokia has launched three new, affordable cell phones that the company hopes will bring smartphone features to affordable phones.
Nokia's newest mobile phones represent the start of an effort to bring the features so many people associate with smartphones, like email, messaging and social networking, to more affordable and simpler devices. To that end, all three handsets feature full QWERTY keyboards and provide access to an array of different email accounts, IM communities and social networks.
The C3 is based on Nokia's popular Series 40 platform and is the first S40 device to have a full QWERTY keypad. Costing just €90 ($122) before taxes and subsidies, the device comes with Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat as well as Wi-Fi, a 2-megapixel camera, 2.4-inch color display and support for up to an 8GB memory card. It looks like a curvier E71 and comes in a bunch of different colors including golden white, slate grey and hot pink.
The C6 is a Symbian-based smartphone with a 3.2-inch touch screen, a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash autofocus. With Facebook feeds directly on the homescreen and a full suite of email and social networking capabilities the C6 sounds a little like Nokia's version of the Kin. At €220 this one is a little more expensive than the uber cheap C3, but we're guessing subsidies from a carriers will take that down to a lower and more wallet-friendly price.
The last offering is the E5, which is a more serious device. With support for Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes Traveller, the E5 is aimed more at professionals who like to dabble in a bit of social networking on the side. Again, it looks a little bit like the E71/E72. Aesthetically, not much different to the C3 except it doesn't have the sexy curves; Nokia instead opted for more square corners and lots of straight lines. Estimated price is €180 ($244) before taxes and subsidies.
Nokia E5 is expected in the Q3 2010 while the C3 and C6 should arrive in Q2.
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I guess if you don't want a contract with a carrier, those are great prices.. Personally, free Droid and a 2year contract gets my deal.
I'm overly satisfied with my HTC Tattoo running Android 1,6 Donut - It set me back just 399$ and I would choose Android over Symbian and Series40 any day.
We should get rid of cell phones and go back to land lines. Or perhaps two metal cans and a piece of string.
Affordable smartphones you say? You can get the Motorola DROID from Amazon for $19. I'd say that's a pretty good price!
The C6 (only one I would be interested in of the three) seems to be a cheaper version of both the N97 and the N900. www.nokia.co.uk is yet to list them in their product lines so I will wait until I can compare the C6 and the N900 fully. As long as the C6 incorporates Wi-Fi and supports Flash along with AVI video files then I think they are on to a 'C'ertain winner.
rmmil978 they droid is a dataplan shit, ull have to pay loads per month, this is the unlocked price and u just have to apply 22% more in our country. In the end ull be playing atleast 50 dollars every month, u should the contracts.
I have the cheaper version of the C6, the 5230 or whatever from Tmobile and for the price it offers a TON of features. Android like Multi-Taking, Copy/Paste, a headphone jack, it's great!
That is one fugly phone in pink.
What set you back is not the phone but the plan!!!
A family plan of 3 phones will cost you $200 from ATT and VZN!!!!
I suppose the only cool thing that it comes in more colors than any phone I know
No FM radio options? I'm impressed the smartphones are getting cheaper, but I want an all in one device that can plug into my tv and play FPS. Another year or two?
Wow! Finally some Nokia coverage. I'm tired of all this iphone and droid crap. Nokia get no attention even though it is STILL the largest phone manufacture in the world. Nokia was making smartphones since 2002, before google was even a popular search engine and apple had barley released the ipod.
It's like never posting stories about microsoft or intel.
I'd buy if there was no contract or data plan. (I don't need web browse, etc - just phone, address book, sms and optionally camera).
The expensive part isn't the phone, it's the data plan. You can get a Droid Eris for free with a data plan. So if you can afford the data plan I don't see the point in a cheap smart phone.
I wouldn't take it even if ATT give me $100 because the mandatory data plan for two years. That is $30 extra per month on top of your voice plan, in two years you end up paying $720 more. You can buy or do a lot of things with $720.
Affordable smartphones you say? You can get the Motorola DROID from Amazon for $19. I'd say that's a pretty good price!
Motorola is a small-time player with tastless designs. Perhaps that's why they are practically donating their phones free to get market share up from the rock bottom they now are.
I own a Nokia touchscreen smartphone with a 3.2 inches screen
I like the look and feel, interface and capabilities of Symbian OS, it serves me right as a cell phone and a music player. Hardware likewise it is capable of smooth SD video playback and surfing sites with flash using Opera. And here the dream ends...
The truth is that it is not convenient to surf the internet or watch a movie and I only do it when it is my only option. The problem with Nokia is the screen size, the experience is the same as gaming in a 10 inch screen. If they want to compete on the smartphone market they have to build phones with larger screens. I have only felt comfortable with a droid or an iPhone. Last but not least they have to draw developers on their open platform. Symbian has an immense market share but doesn't seem to take advantage of..
If they really want to nail it, make a phone with a monochrome screen w/back light, ability for caller id, call waiting, voice mail, hands free capable, simple texting; and 3 week battery capacity.
I really could care less for people face-booking while talking to a friend who wants gps instructions to a concert she just bought tickets with some stupid app on a contract that costs $120+ a month.
I know i know... "get off my lawn"...
Humans Think: Why would you watch a movie on your phone?!
tsnorquist: I like it but I'd cut the battery to one week and add the ability to play mp3s.
We should get rid of cell phones and go back to land lines. Or perhaps two metal cans and a piece of string.
Why stop there, let's just get rid of it altogether and go back to a shouting match lol
Humans Think: Why would you watch a movie on your phone?
When using the train for example
The expensive part isn't the phone, it's the data plan. You can get a Droid Eris for free with a data plan. So if you can afford the data plan I don't see the point in a cheap smart phone.
Cause most companies over here use a good phone to get you a data plan you don't need. You can get great data plans for £15 (unlimited internet and 300 texts and mins) but to get a decent phone with that your look at £30+ contracts. Unless I pay £350+ for say the N900 Im looking at a £30 a month contract of 1000mins unlimited texts and internet im not gonna use. The phone is by far the expensive part here.
I really haven't been following Nokia's new phones and updated Symbian OS... im using the N95-4 currently (yea it's old..) and was wondering how much the OS and phones have improved ... if at all.
I've been using Nokia phones since 1996. Every Motorolla my job gives me is a piece of ****. I still have to use them, but for my bonus money... I need the pictures from my e71x
Cool, so now the average man can afford a piece of the big golden pie too..... good work and it's high time nokia started catering with the right stuff for the poor man..... good work