Nokia Intros Trio Of Messaging PhonesNokia Intros Trio Of Messaging Phones

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Nokia C6 Smartphone

Nokia released a three-phone broadside at multiple competitors and markets on Tuesday. All three phones -- the Nokia C3, Nokia C6 and Nokia E5 -- feature full qwerty keyboards and stress ease-of-use messaging as well as social networking tools.

The C3 is aimed at Blackberry’s turf and Nokia is betting the low $122 price of the phone along with its Wi-Fi capability will influence consumers. The C3, the latest member of Nokia’s Series 40 family, also enables users to access social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Social networking updates appear directly on the phone’s screen.

“Services that provide easy access to the world’s consumer and corporate e-mail and instant messaging are really popular on our qwerty smartphones,” said Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia’s head of markets, in a statement. “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 C6 has more advanced features including a slide out keyboard and is priced at $290. Its 3.2-inch touch screen can display images taken from the phone’s five megapixel autofocus camera. The phone comes with Ovi Maps and free walk and drive navigation. Nokia noted that thousands of apps are available for the C6 in the Ovi Store.

The Nokia E5, like the C6, is Symbian-based and demonstrates that the company is serious about its pledge to continue to use the popular OS even as it develops its new MeeGo operating system with Intel. Nokia said the $180E5 has direct access to corporate e-mail systems through Mail for Exchange and IBM Lotus Notes Traveler.

Analysts said the low price of the phones indicates that Nokia is taking aim at emerging markets such as China and India. The C3 and C6 models are expected to be available later this quarter while the E5 is scheduled for availability in the third quarter.