Nokia Intros Three New Handsets

Nokia has announced three new cell phones solidly in the tradition that made Nokia the world's top handset maker...but don't look for them in North America.

Finland’s Nokia has announced three new cell phones build solidly on the features and traditions that have made Nokia the world’s mobile handset maker, combining tough engineering, reasonable designs and capabilities, and competitive pricing. Just don’t look for these handsets to hit North American markets: like so much of Nokia’s business, the new handsets are aimed at international markets—in this case, primarily in Europe.

First up, the Nokia 6700 Classic is a “monoblock” phone that follows up on Nokia’s very popular 6300 handset, and features a 5 megapixel camera, AGPS navigation with Nokia Maps, HSDPA data access, a 2.3-inch QVGA screen, microSD storage + 170 MB of internal memory, and some cool extras like a metal keypad and an ambient light sensor. Nokia expects to offer the 6700 Classic to retail for €235 before taxes and subsidies.

Next, the Nokia 6303 Classic aims at people happy with the current 6300 handset, with a 3.2 megapixel camera, a 2.2 QVGA display, and pre-loaded Nokia Maps. The 6303 runs on tri-band GMS+EDGE connectivity, and includes a speakerphone, microSD expansion, and integrated FM receiver; it’ll run €135 before taxes and subsidies. Finally, the Nokia 2700 classic will run €65 before taxes and subsidies, and aims to be an affordable Internet-capable phone with music capabilities, a 2 megapixel camera, and connectivity with Nokia’s Ovi online sharing and social services.

All three phones should ship in the second quarter of 2009.