Also announced at Nokia's product launch in Barcelona were the 6220 classic and 6210 Navigator models, both being smartphones and having their own unique specialty.

Starting off with the 6220 classic (product site | tech specs), you may be wondering just what is so unique about a very-typical "classic" model. Then how does 5-megapixel + Carl Zeiss + Xenon flash sound to you?

I believe what Nokia is trying to do with this particular product is to (try and) bring high-quality imaging to the masses, one that doesn't involve any specialised sub-branding of sorts, and a device that is seen as affordable given the specs that it upholds. Plus, the fact that the 6220 classic also gets both GPS and A-GPS facilities will give it an even more attractive value proposition than what one would expect from a typical Nokia device.

Also, it'll be running the latest iteration of the S60 smartphone platform, being one of the few devices to feature this upon its release to market. From what I've seen of Third Edition Feature Pack 2, all I can say is nothing but good words about it...

The 6220 classic will also feature a 2.2-inch QVGA display, support microSD memory cards (of up to 8GB thus far), and be able to access the Internet via HSDPA. For GPS-based applications, the Nokia Maps software will also be included, and users will also be able to "geo-tag" any of the photos taken with the smartphone, allowing those viewing a picture to see where exactly it was shot or taken.

For the 6210 Navigator (product site | tech specs) product, this will be an upgrade to the now-current 6110 Navigator product (aka the first Nokia product to specialise in mobile navigation). As for any product upgrade, there are of course significant changes - and these include:

• a built-in accelerometer that can measure changes in direction and orientation, which in turn offers digital compass capabilities;
• added support for pedestrian-based guidance (achieved through the use of the digital compass feature);
• a new version of Nokia Maps (v2.0) to support full voice and visual turn-by-turn guidance;
• a slightly-larger display (2.4" - up from 2.2"); and
• a 3.2-megapixel auto-focus camera.

And, of course, given that it's also a S60 smartphone, the 6210 Navigator will also include a number of complements - including a music player, stereo FM radio, and a message reader for text (SMS) and email-based messages.

Both handsets are quad-band GSM and dual-band UMTS (900/2100) compatible, and are slated for release-to-market in Q3.

Nokia today refreshed their Nseries line of handsets with two new models - ones which, I believe, are destined to lead an exciting and productive life...


Nokia N96
Based on the very-successful N95 models thus far, this latest creation has been designed with the exact winning form factor - but also taking many of the design elements from the current N81 model. From simply looking at the N96's picture on the right, you'll know exactly what I'm getting at! However, in more detail, some of the things worth noting would be the dynamic lighting used for the different keypad buttons - all of which turn on or off depending on the currently-active function.

You might just be able to see examples of this in some of the pictures I've included in the gallery (simply click on the N96's picture on the right to access).

On top of the already-hefty list of features and functions, Nokia has again made upgrades on the various aspects of this smartphone, including:

• A 16GB internal memory area (doubled from that of the N95 8GB), plus the ability to further expand this via microSD cards (SDHC-compatible);
• True, high-speed USB 2.0 support for the transferring of data between smartphone and other computing devices;
• Full support for Flash-based (FLV) videos via the 'Nokia Video Center', which makes the N96 compatible with video clips offered by services like YouTube, Reuters, and Sony Pictures;
• An integrated DVB-H receiver offering live TV broadcasts, plus an automatically-updating program guide (not available on all versions of the N96);
• A 'kickstand' on the phone's back cover, allowing for convenient hands-free video playback;
• Added RDS support for the Stereo FM radio application;
• A double-LED photo and video light provides illumination where required (but I would've still preferred a Xenon flash here);
• Full compatibility with the upcoming Nokia 'Ovi' services, which should be fully available by the N96's commercial release;
• Running S60 Third Edition, Feature Pack 2 platform (upgraded from FP1).

I had a brief play of the N96 on the show floor yesterday. The phone looks and feels very much like a relatively-larger sized version of the N81, with the exception that it slides both ways. I quite liked the setup of the new media buttons (those surrounding the D-pad), and the fact that proper buttons for the ANSWER and END are being used instead. Plus, the new Navi wheel that can make scrolling a far less strenuous task.

But having said all that, I still very much prefer the front panel navigation set of keys on the N95 8GB. For example, the "menu" and "clear" buttons are far easier to press than those on the new N96 - being located near the bottom two corners, which can make it difficult for the casual user to properly target and depress. The same goes for the numeric keypad on the N96 - it might look stunning, but not as ergonomic as I would've liked it to be.

People waiting out for the N96 can expect it to arrive sometime in the third quarter of this year.

Resources: N96 - technical specifications (Nokia.com)


Nokia N78
As the official successor to the N73 (I thought it would've been the N82 - but anyway), which Nokia has mentioned as being one of the most successful Nseries products to date, this was clearly another model that required a level of attention by its makers.

Again, taking on a similar design genre as the N81 and N96, this candy bar utilises the same dynamic lighting for the numpad and the standby indicator (an LED light surrounding the D-pad and pulsates whenever the N78 enters sleep mode). For its keypad, Nokia has retained a similar keypad area design as the N73, but have improvised on this so it goes along with the current design. The result: a clean, button-less number pad with slight horizontal protrusions indicating the different rows of the input area. However, my short, hands-on experience with the N78 has told me what I had expected - such a keypad design is more for show than it is practical...

Moving on, some of the new, more interesting features of the N78 include:

• Dual-band UMTS (850/2100) and quad-band GSM (850/900/18001900);
• High-speed data: supports HSDPA-enabled 3G networks;
• Wireless LAN (802.11b/g) and UPnP support;
• Integrated A-GPS, plus support for the geo-tagging of photos taken with the N78's 3.2-megapixel camera (Carl Zeiss optics);
• 2.4-inch TFT display at QVGA resolution, supporting up to 16 million colours;
• 3.5mm AV connector;
• Stereo FM radio with support for RDS, Visual Radio and offline playback support;
• Integrated FM transmitter: play back music on the N78 through the car stereo;
• Nokia Mini-map Browser with RSS support;
• Nokia Maps pre-installed; and
• Running S60 Third Edition, Feature Pack 2 platform (upgraded from FP1).

My initial impressions of the N78 were mostly positive, as it is truly an improvement (not hugely) over the N73 predecessor. I am quite fond of its physical design, on a macro level. But I wouldn't go as far as to say it is a charm of a phone to hold and use - not yet anyway (that is, until I get the real deal to take a good look at).

And that should be sometime during Q2.

Resources: N78 - technical specification (Nokia.com)

This week, Nokia brought us three new phone products - one based on an existing model, and two new ones targeted at the "emerging markets" segment.

The 7900 Crystal Prism brings even greater aesthetics to its owner, with its laser-etched graphic designs and (most importantly) the crystal centre key. What the 7900 Prism wasn't is now found in this subsequent, latest release - and, in my opinion, is definitely a good move by Nokia.

While on the emerging markets front, the 2600 Classic and 1209 models have been created to offer greater practicality. For the former, exchangeable Xpress-on covers allow its user to stylise their phone to a preferred look-and-feel, while the FM radio and VGA camera complements bring along a new level of entertainment value. On the even-more-budgetry Nokia 1209 model, it offers several innovative facilities - including a pre-paid tracker, a cost-tracking application, and a multiple phonebook supporting up to 200 numbers in total - all of which can cater for the need to share a single handset amongst multiple users.

(Apparently, the basis of this comes from research done by Nokia in such emerging markets, with a greater proportion of respondents agreeing to the fact that "phone sharing" is the way to go - specifically, with family and friends).

And availability for the above is as follows: 2600 Classic has just shipped, the 7900 Crystal Prism will be sometime this quarter (Q1), and the 1209 in Q2.

Resources: 7900 Crystal Prism - general product pages | 2600 Classic - general product pages | 1209 - general product pages

Just what the doctor ordered - a slider phone that has been properly done up, and finished mainly with stainless steel panels to give it the aesthetic edge needed to stand out (in a subtle kind of way).

The 6500 slide, or also known as the 6500s, is Nokia’s latest response to the greater market need for phones that aren’t as “out there” or offering too great a “wow factor”, which can be quite overwhelming for some. And nor does it present itself in too conservative a fashion - yet, it may take a bit of (but not too much) time before it starts to grow on you.

If you’re after a phone that you’d like to keep for some time, then I’d highly suggest the 6500 slide. Apart from its timeless looks, Nokia has packed the device with some of the most current mobile technologies available - and some features that you may end up taking for granted, over time.

Continue reading the 6500 slide review...

I guess I couldn't really put it any better - as Nokia seems to always know best...

On the surface, the new N82 is the candy bar version of Nokia's 5-megapixel camera smartphone, the N95.

True - but only to a certain degree.

While it may mirror many of the very features found on the N95, it also adds a few other items of great importance - like the new Xenon flash (replacing the rather-pathetic photo light - which Nokia dares to define as a flash - found on all Carl Zeiss enabled models thus far), and an amber-coloured AF assist light (which improves upon the standard white-coloured light). Clearly, Nokia is finally starting to become quite serious on the subject of mobile photography...

Other features of interest include:

• support for HSDPA (3.5G) enabled networks;
• WLAN (802.11b/g) support plus UPnP capabilities;
• integrated GPS with assist option - along with pre-installed Nokia Maps application plus local maps;
• multifunctional 3.5mm A/V port - supporting standard headphones, phone-based headsets, and video output;
• Micro USB socket for data connectivity over USB 2.0 (PC suite, data modem support, mass storage), and PictBridge; and
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR and wireless stereo audio (A2DP) support.

The N82 will have around 100MB worth of built-in dynamic memory, plus a 2GB microSD card included within the sales package.

And availability is of... right now! Quoting from Nokia's press release...

The Nokia N82 is available now in key markets with an estimated, pre-tax, unsubsidized sales price of approximately 450 euros.

Resources: Nseries.com | Nokia.com | Technical specifications

After quite a wait, Nokia finally introduces 3G to its premium line of handsets - with the introduction of the Arte family of models.

The 8800 Arte, to be commercially available before the end of the year, will feature a state-of-the-art design involving the combined use of both glass and metal in its overall construction (apparently, the finishing will be anti-fingerprint), plus its unique ball-bearing-plus-spring slider mechanism. At the same time, its technological capabilities have been expanded to include features that are quickly being taken for granted - including:

• a bigger, brighter display - 16.7-million-colour QVGA display, utilising OLED technology, with a viewable diagonal of two inches;

• better-looking pictures - a 3.2-megapixel camera with auto-focus lens;
• bigger internal storage - up to 1GB worth of internal memory for the storage of media and other files;
• improved battery life - a 1000mAh lithium-ion battery ensures reasonable usage times, along with the help of an ambient sensor to further conserve power by dimming the display's backlight based on current available lighting;
• faster data access - WCDMA on 3G, and GPRS or EDGE on GSM (2G) networks;
• wider connectivity - its Micro USB port allows for battery charging, audio output, and data handling (PC suite, data modem capabilities, mass storage, and audio management); and
• touch-and-go features - 'tap-for-time' for an instant showing of the time, and 'turn-to-mute' for the silencing of incoming call alerts and alarms.

Many will be glad to see the expanded feature set of such a model, as those previous ones lacked various capabilities that are deemed crucial to those many "mobile" users.

For the 8800 Sapphire Arte, to be available in the first quarter of next year, it will share exactly the same features on the inside, but differing somewhat in the aesthetics department. A genuine sapphire gem stone sits proudly below the glass-encased display, and the use of soft leather provides that unique sensation.

As per usual, Nokia has included a range of unique accessories to go with both 8800 Arte models: a matching desk stand; carrying case finished in suede; and a specially-designed Bluetooth headset featuring active noise cancellation and touch-sensitive volume adjustment.

I have a feeling that this latest 8800 instalment will probably be one of the most popular thus far.

Resources: 8800 Arte - technical specifications | 8800 Sapphire Arte - technical specifications

In a nutshell, this is pretty much what this new 6301 model is... "but what is this UMA thingamigy?!"

To put it simply, 'Unlicensed Mobile Access' offers an alternate way for people to connect to their mobile service provider's network. So far, a handset can only hook up to a provider through the specific cellular network technology (or technologies) that it supports (e.g. GSM, UMTS). But with the addition of UMA, it offers an alternative means to achieving the same result - through the use of private unlicenced spectrum technologies.

In the case of the 6301, as well as most other UMA-enabled handsets, this is achieved through the use of WiFi (or wireless LAN technology). Now, you may probably want to throw your arms up in joy right about now, having just learnt that - one day - you would be able to make calls via the comfort of a traditional local area network at home or in the office. But, right now, trying to find a mobile service provider that supports UMA technology may be harder than you think - since it is still early in the technology's life cycle.

(No lecture today from me - but if you want to find out more about this particular mobile technology, here's the concise-enough UMA explanation via Wikipedia)

Getting back to the subject at hand, the Nokia 6301 will:

• come only in the GSM 900/1800/1900 flavour (the model is targeted at the European market);
• gain WiFi data connectivity - for use primarily with UMA, but also accessible by other data-capable on-board apps;
• offer up to 30MB of memory for user data, which is nearly three times more space than its elder twin model; and
• also get a deskstand - to keep the phone in-charge during those UMA-based calls.

These changes certainly look interesting, but at the same time somewhat irrelevant - that is, if you aren't going to give UMA a shot. But in any case, expect to see the 6301 sometime during the fourth quarter...

Resources: General product pages | Technical specifications

Nokia's E51 will be the third candy bar (or monoblock) design of the Eseries family of business-orientated handsets. This rather thin handset, measuring at just 12 millimetres thick, will be a focus for those looking for a compact device with high-speed data access - supporting both HSDPA (3.5G) mobile data connectivity and wireless LAN (802.11g) networks.

The E51 is only the second handset in the Eseries family, following the E90 Communicator, to include support for the higher data rates offered by HSDPA - which, in a sense, makes it all the more attractive if fast mobile data is a key need for you. This dual-band UMTS (850/2100), quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) model also features a built-in FM radio, a 2-megapixel camera, and supports the Windows Live suite of apps (Live Hotmail, Live Search, Live Spaces, and Live Messenger).

And, of course, those general Eseries features - including push email support, VoIP, and one-touch hard keys for instant access to functions - are obviously included with the E51.

Nokia expects to ship the E51 during the fourth quarter of this year, and has an expected retail price of around 350 EUR.

Resources: General product pages | Technical specifications

Bringing truly "usable" Internet services to the mobile phone has been a somewhat slow process, mainly because of where most of us are with the adoption of mobile phone technology.

But with the maturing of 3G, along with the products that utilise this mobile technology, the provision of online services for such devices has become a target for many. And today, it is Nokia's turn to bring further joy to our phone usage experiences...

Called "Ovi", meaning "door" in Finnish, this will be Nokia's new Internet services brand name. They plan on offering, at launch, three specific services to their users - which is summed up in the following extract of their press release:

As part of Ovi, Nokia announced the Nokia Music Store and N-Gage, two services that make it easy for people to discover, try and buy music and games from a blockbuster range of artists and publishers, including exclusive content only available through Nokia. Also under the Ovi umbrella is Nokia Maps, a navigation service that offers maps, city guides and more directly to compatible mobile devices. Nokia aims to bring more Internet based services to Ovi in the coming months.

The music store will be something like Apple's iTunes Store, where users will be able to make single track or album purchases - with costs expected at EUR 1.00 and EUR 10.00 respectively. Full track streaming to a PC will also be an available option, with an estimated monthly subscription cost of EUR 10.00.

For the N-Gage and Nokia Maps services, these will allow users to download the respective content directly to their mobile devices for immediate use. These are certainly great distribution models, again made possible by the maturing of mobile Internet connectivity.

Other elements of Ovi will appear progressively in the many months following its launch, with some of these including access to personal content, communities and contacts from either a PC or a compatible Nokia device.

Nokia hopes to have the first version of the Ovi service is expected to go live sometime during the fourth quarter this year, and will be offered in English only. Progressive introduction of new features and additional languages should be made available during the first half of 2008.

Resources: Nokia Ovi web site

I'm not a big fan of product facelifts or minor upgrades. But in the case of the N95 8GB, Nokia seems to have addressed many of the elements overshadowed its predecessor's "almost perfect" standing.

Physically, this "enhanced" model looks and feels pretty much the same as the original N95 release - with the exception of a notably-bigger display (the sides of the top slider section is now flush with the lower), slightly-modified designs for the nav-pad (the set of buttons below the LCD) and media controls, and the moving of the LED flash to the left hand side of the Carl Zeiss lens (most probably to improve illumination performance). In short, these changes can only mean a better product for the end user.

On the inside, the 8-gigabyte worth of storage is the obvious headline feature here (if you hadn't noticed) - but does away with the ability to use external memory cards with smartphone. As irrelevant as the latter may be, given the vast amounts of internal memory available to the N95 8GB, losing the ability to work with 'memory cards' in general - especially for the phone's camera application - can be a bummer, and an inconvenience, for some.

With the exception of the aforementioned, the N95 8GB retains the same outstanding features of its predecessor - with the addition of the following enhancements:

• a new 2.8-inch (viewable diagonal) display (up from 2.6"), and supporting up to 16 million (24-bit) colours;
• support for a higher-capacity battery cell (BL-6F @ 1200mAh) - up from 950mAh for the BL-5F used for the original N95;
• the pre-loading of the new N-Gage application, providing access to the new online gaming service (to be available globally in November 2007); and
• an 8-gigabyte internal (flash-based) memory area for media-based content (for other content, such as PIM-based data and applications, these are restricted to the phone's 100MB dynamic memory area).

An ETA of Q4 has been given to the "second edition" N95. For those who've held off on the first-gen model, this is most definitely a worthwhile consideration. And as for existing N95 users, like myself, upgrading to the 8GB version is a probable option - but probably not worth the while, given the high price tag of this reigning Nseries flagship.

Resources: General product pages (Nseries.com) | General product pages (Nokia.com) | Technical specifications

If the Nseries products are just too overwhelming, then how about some real-deal, down-to-earth music phones?

Also shown off at the Nokia 'Go Play' events were two Series 40 based newborns belonging to the 'XpressMusic' family of handsets.

The 5310 XpressMusic, a quad-band-GSM candy bar that's 9.9mm thin and weighing in at just over 70 grams, is perfect for those who appreciates slim-bodied phones. Aesthetically, it also features aluminium side panels that surround the perimeter, and presented in a way to provide "trendy colour combinations" (two colour variants will be available). A 2.0-inch QVGA display (supporting up to 16 million colours) and 2.0-megapixel camera are also included as part of the deal.

For users demanding 3G connectivity, the 5610 XpressMusic - a slider-based model - offers tri-band UMTS support (850/1900/2100) in addition to basic quad-band GSM (2G) compatibility. It also includes a 2.2-inch QVGA display, and a 3.2-megapixel auto-focus camera with dual-LED flash and two-step shutter button. However, as well-equipped as this particular model may sound, it lacks a proper 3.5mm audio jack - a feature that, to my surprise, was given to the aforementioned GSM-only model.

Common features shared by both models include:

• specific controls for music playback control;
• a dedicated audio chip (DAC-33);
• external memory (microSD) support - for cards of up to 4GB in capacity;
• stereo FM radio receiver with RDS support;
• Micro USB 2.0 connectivity for data transfers between phone and PC/Mac;
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR support;
• offline (flight mode) support; and
• the use of an ambient light sensor to control proper LCD and keypad backlight operations (i.e. to conserve battery power and improve display readability where possible).

Just like the two other Nseries models announced, both XpressMusic models will be made available during Q4.

Resources for '5310 XpressMusic': General product pages | Technical specifications
Resources for '5610 XpressMusic': General product pages | Technical specifications

At Nokia's 'Go Play' gatherings in London, Guangzhou and Singapore (did I miss any?), Nokia pulled off another first. But this time, it was the type that lacked the "wow" factor expected of such events...

Just as the rumour mills had predicted several weeks ago (being information that I'd rather keep to ourselves until it becomes official), Nokia was going to bring to life two new Nseries models - specifically, the N81 and N95 8GB. While the second one may sound like a likely upgrade to an existing model, with the rather-curious "8GB" suffix, it is the first model - or two models - that should raise some eyebrows.

The N81 isn't just "a" model - it's two! Yep, that's right - a straight N81 with external memory (microSD) support, and a N81 8GB with the described internal memory (flash-based) - just like what the N95 upgrade gets too. And this is the one and only feature that differentiates the two apart.

Why two models and not just the one? A valid question - but the answer may simply be "choice". While the N81 8GB comes with a vast amount of internal memory only, and to be sold at a slightly higher price point (of around 430 Euros), the straight-flavoured version will allow for a choice in memory capacity and be priced 70 Euros less. I guess "take your pick" would be Nokia's intending statement here...

So, anyway, what makes the N81 range so special? For starters, many may feel this is an upgrade to the now-rather-pathetic N80 model - which, I believe, is partially true. Nokia has passed some of these features along to this latest release, as well as the following editions:

• a 2.4-inch QVGA (240-by-320-pixel) display showing up to 16 million colours, and usable in both portrait and landscape (camera / gallery / gaming) modes;
• a 2.0-megapixel camera for imaging, and supporting QVGA @ 15fps video recordings;enhanced D-pad offering additional music playback controls, which also illuminates accordingly;
• integrated stereo FM radio receiver (with Visual Radio support) and stereo handsfree speakers;
• a multi-purpose 3.5mm jack compatible with the included multi-functional headset (as well as standard audio ones) and the optional Nokia-issue AV cable;
• USB 2.0 connectivity - done through the N81's new Micro USB interface, a smaller-sized socket variant - and supporting Mass Storage Device support too;
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR and A2DP (wireless stereo audio) support;
• user interface upgraded to Series 60 (S60) Third Edition, Feature Pack 1 - which includes a vast list of improvements;
• built-in N-Gage gaming experience - thanks to the pre-loaded app and the online service going live in November (possibly, by the time the N81 makes it to market); and
• two additional soft buttons, located just above the display on both sides of the earpiece, which have been specifically implemented for gaming use.

And not forgetting, of course, the external-memory-only nature of the 'N81' (supporting microSD cards of up to 4GB in capacity), and the 8-gigabyte internal-only memory configuration of the 'N81 8GB'.

Take note also, for those who are wary of data support - the N81 Family knows nothing about HSDPA (or 3.5G), which came as a rude shock to me. No matter how Nokia wants to see it, I just can't think of any logical reason why they chose such an exclusion. If it came down to differentiation, my response would be: "it's an Nseries smartphone, no HSDPA?!"

Both the N81 and 'N81 8GB' are expected to ship sometime during the fourth quarter.

Resources for 'N81': Nseries.com | Nokia.com | Technical specifications
Resources for 'N81 8GB': Nseries.com | Nokia.com | Technical specifications

If you're using one of the latest Nseries models, then you'd be very interested to learn of the following...

Nokia and Microsoft have finally announced the official release of their Windows Live suite of apps, enabling users access to the following Windows Live services directly from a compatible S60 handset: Contacts, Hotmail, Live Spaces, and - most importantly - Live Messenger (aka MSN). This is great news for those who wants to be able to access these online services at any time they so wish.

Some time prior to this announcement, a preview release (or beta) of the suite was floating around on the Internet - and I managed to get hold of it to try out, and ultimately use. And after having spent some time with it, I've got to say that they've done a fantastic job with the implementation on virtually all fronts... well done Nokia!

Now, on availability - this excerpt from the official press release pretty much sums it up:

Nokia customers who own the Nokia N73, N76, N80 Internet Edition, N93i, and the N95 multimedia computers can get the Windows Live services via the Download! application in the following countries; Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, UK, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Customers can visit http://www.nokia.com/windowslive to learn more, and check if their country is on the availability list. Initially the service will be available as a free trial and then customers in select markets wishing to continue using the service may be asked to pay a monthly fee.

Sadly, this is how it is right now. But do check back at the Nokia Windows Live page often to see if the suite is available for more phone models, and whether it has been extended to more markets (currently, the list only shows selected countries in Europe and the Middle East).

(While more S60 models will be supported in the near future, Nokia is also planning on bringing these services to S40-based models as of next year - stay tuned!)

Resources: Nokia Windows Live page

In attempts to further expand their 3G handset range for its mass-market users, Nokia has announced the 6555 - a clamshell which "pairs original design and quality worksmanship with outstanding features". For a handset positioned as such, and to be retailing at approximately 200 Euros upon launch, I have doubts as to just how true this statement really is how well this statement will hold up.

To be honest, Nokia's clamshell designs are still not quite up there with the rest, even though they have improved over the years. In the case of the 6555, its somewhat-longer and thinner form factor doesn't just contribute to its aesthetics - but also does its bit towards providing more-positive ergonomics (or overall usability). Seemingly so...

The 6555 will feature all the basic elements of a typical Series 40 (S40) handset, but it will be running the 5th Edition of the platform, being Nokia's latest release. Key features include:

• true dual-mode (2G and 3G) support - Nokia's first handset to support both quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and tri-band UMTS (850/1900/2100) - which makes it a real-deal "world phone";
• a 2.0-inch, 16-million-colour QVGA primary display - along with a 128-by-160-pixel external LCD supporting up to 262K colours;
• GPRS / EDGE / WCDMA data connectivity;
• support for external memory cards (microSD) of up to 4GB in size;
• Bluetooth 2.0 and Micro-USB (USB2-based) connectivity; and
• Removable 1020mAh lithium-battery (BL-5C).

Availability is expected within the next few weeks.

Resources: General product pages | Technical specifications

Being world-number-one-phone-maker, this has got to make headline news - if it hasn't already, that is...

Nokia, on Tuesday, has issued a product advisory, or "recall", on one of their more (if not, most) popular battery models, the BL-5C. Specifically, it refers to those manufactured by Japanese-based Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. between the period of December 2005 and November 2006:

Nokia has several suppliers for BL-5C batteries who have collectively produced more than 300 million BL-5C batteries. This advisory applies only to the 46 million batteries manufactured by Matsushita between December 2005 and November 2006, from which there have been approximately 100 incidents of overheating reported globally. No serious injuries or property damage have been reported.

I guess it's reassuring to know that only around 15% of the total BL-5C population out there are affected
(?)...

Consumers with a BL-5C battery subject to this advisory should note that all of the approximately 100 incidents have occurred while charging the battery. According to Nokia's knowledge this issue does not affect any other use of the mobile device.

... along with the fact that only 100 cases, all of which occurred during the charging process, have so far been reported.

To check if you're affected, you'll need to enter the battery's 26-character identification number, which is located near the bottom on the back of the cell. Once you've got this, visit the BL-5C Product Advisory web page to verify.