Nokia C3, C6 And E5 QWERTY Phones Unveiled

Nokia has announced three new social networking and messaging handsets, the Nokia C3, C6 and E5.  Each packing a full QWERTY keyboard, the C3 runs S40 while the C6 and E5 each get Symbian though with a consumer and business focus, respectively.  All of the devices have IM, email and social networking support.

The Nokia C3 has a 2.4-inch QVGA display, 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, FM radio, 3.5mm headphone socket and a microSD card slot (happy with up to 8GB).  It also gets 1-click access to various social networks, including image uploads, via Nokia's Communities app, though you'll probably want to be near a WiFi b/g network since it tops out at EDGE only.  It's expected to arrive in Q2 2010 priced at €90 ($122) before taxes/subsidies.

As for the Nokia C6, that has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, WiFi b/g and quadband UMTS/HSPA.  There's also a 5-megapixel camera, IM and email support, together with Ovi Maps with free navigation, a front-facing camera for video calls, FM radio, Bluetooth and A-GPS.  It runs S60 5.0 and will go on sale in Q2 2010 for €220 ($299) before taxes/subsidies.

Finally, the Nokia E5 slots into the company's business range, running S60 3rd edition, FP2, with a full QWERTY keyboard, WiFi b/g, triband UMTS/HSPA, A-GPS and Bluetooth.  It too has Ovi Maps with navigation, IM and email, but throws in Exchange sync as well, together with a 5-megapixel full-focus camera with LED flash and Ovi Store access.  It'll be available in Q3 2010, priced at €180 ($245) before taxes/subsidies.

Press Release:

Social networking and messaging brought to life with the Nokia C3, Nokia C6 and Nokia E5.

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has announced three new handsets – the Nokia C3, Nokia C6 and Nokia E5 – designed to put better messaging and social networking tools in the hands of more people around the world, at affordable prices. These new handsets feature full QWERTY keyboards, and enable access to a range of different email accounts, IM communities and social networks.

"Our messaging device range is very successful," said Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's Head of Markets. "Services that provide easy access to the world's consumer and corporate email and instant messaging are really popular on our QWERTY smartphones such as the Nokia E71 and Nokia E63. People want the best messaging and social networking experience on an affordable device, whether it's sending a simple text or instant message, an email, or a direct message from their Twitter account. The Nokia C3, Nokia C6 and Nokia E5 are made for just that."

The Nokia C3 is the first device to bring a full QWERTY keyboard to the world's most popular mobile phone platform – Series 40 – and is the first in the range to enable access to social networks directly on the homescreen. People can view, comment, update their status and share pictures to their favorite social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

At an estimated price of EUR 90, before taxes and subsidies, the Nokia C3 also comes with Ovi Mail and Ovi Chat, meaning first time users can set up email and chat accounts straight from the device, without the need for a PC. Other notable features are the Wi-Fi connectivity, a two megapixel camera, rich color 2.4 inch screen and support for up to an 8GB memory card. The Nokia C3 is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2010 in a variety of appealing colors, including golden white, slate grey and hot pink.

The Nokia C6 is a Symbian-based smartphone combining the benefits of a 3.2 inch touch screen with a full slide out keyboard. The large screen provides a great Internet experience, as well as offering access to Facebook feeds directly on the homescreen. A full suite of email and social networking capabilities means the Nokia C6 is perfect for people who want to stay up to date while on the go.

Expected to be available in the second quarter of 2010 at an estimated price of EUR 220, before taxes and subsidies, the Nokia C6 has an impressive feature set including a high quality five megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, and Ovi Maps with free walk and drive navigation. In addition, thousands of apps – from games and videos to news aggregators and web services – are available in the Ovi Store.

Rounding off the trio is the latest addition to the Nokia Eseries range, the Nokia E5. Designed for those that want to be productive in both their professional and personal lives, the Symbian-based Nokia E5 follows the successful blueprint of devices such as the Nokia E72 and Nokia E63. The Nokia E5 combines high quality business features with all of the personal networking and entertainment capabilities that a busy professional expects from a smartphone.

The Nokia E5 is perfect for managing busy schedules with a variety of productivity applications available in the Ovi Store. And with direct access to over 90 percent of the world's corporate email through Mail for Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes Traveler, it's easy to keep in contact from anywhere.

Estimated price of the Nokia E5 is EUR 180, before taxes and subsidies, with expected availability in the third quarter of 2010.