Nokia unveils new phones at NMIC

At the Nokia Mobile Internet Conference, an annual event bringing together developers, content provides and network operators to showcase the latest developments in mobile communications and innovative mobile services, Nokia is now showing off 6 new phones - bringing the total number of phones launched this year to 30 for the manufacturer.

A common theme for all phones launched is color and MMS, and Nokia also launched three new accessories that can be used with several of the company's models to enhance functionality in these including the Nokia Observation camera, Nokia Camera Headset HS-1C and Nokia Music Stand.

The Nokia 6800 is the first messaging device from Nokia optimized for efficient text input - except perhaps for the Nokia 5510, which is the predecessor of the device - sporting a full QWERTY keyboard. The 6800 model comes with a color display, support for SyncML, e-mail, J2ME and MMS, and also offers an integrated stereo FM radio. A dual band 900/1800 MHz GSM/GPRS phone, the Nokia 6800 is expected to start shipping in the first quarter 2003 in Europe, Africa and Asia.

Coming up as a successor to the Nokia 7210 is the Nokia 7250, which has a design that's very similar to the 7210, but also integrates a digital camera. Features are otherwise similar to the 7210, including the color display, support for MMS and J2ME and an integrated stereo FM radio. Like the 7210, the 7250 is tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS, and is expected to start shipping in the first quarter 2003 globally.

The Nokia 6100 is claimed by Nokia to be the world's smallest and lightest GPRS, MMS-enabled phone with color display, and offers tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz and is to be shipping on a global basis before the end of 2002.

A bit down on the ladder in regard to features comes the Nokia 5100, which combines wearability and durability with tri-band 900/1800/1900 MHz support, a color display, support for J2ME and MMS and a more sporty design than what's common from Nokia. Shipments of the 5100 are scheduled to begin globally in the first quarter 2003.

The Nokia 8910i is merely a color version of the dual-band 900/1800 MHz GSM 8910 model, beefed up with support for MMS and J2ME, but still sporting integrated Bluetooth, HSCSD and GPRS. The titanium-cased 8910i is Nokia's main premium phone, with shipments slated to begin in the first quarter 2003 in European, African and Asian markets.

Last, but not least is the Nokia 2100, which Nokia defines as the manufacturer's first mobile entry product. Designed to be an affordable alternative for voice and text messaging to cater to first time users in low mobile penetration markets in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, the Nokia 2100 is expected to be commercially available during the first quarter of 2003 in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific.