Nokia announced two new slider 3G phones Tuesday — the 6700 Slide and the 7230. The Finland-based company described the new models as “made for the design-conscious consumer and optimized for socializing and sharing.” The devices are among a series of steps Nokia is taking to recover from a downturn.
The phones are expected to be available in the first quarter. The 6700, offered in half a dozen color choices, is compact and designed for a pocket or small bag. In addition to its high-speed 3G connectivity, the phone offers a five-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash, and a 2GB microSD card.
Not ‘Anything Particularly New’
The 6700 also features a dedicated camera key and a one-click upload to Ovi, Nokia’s Internet service. It has a 2.2-inch QVGA screen, which slides out to show a keypad. Frames are available in pink, petrol blue, lime, purple or aluminum.
A Symbian-based phone, the 6700 has WCDMA 900/1900/2100, WCDA 850/1900/2100, and GSM 850/900/1800/1900, as well as Bluetooth 2.1.
The 7230, also compact but with color choices of only pink or graphite, has a 3.2-megapixel camera with 4x zoom, a 2.4-inch TFT display, and a missed-call feature that shows a soft illumination. A Series 40 phone, the model supports WCDMA 850/1900/2100 and 900/1900/2100 networks, as well as Bluetooth.
Nokia is promoting both phones as colorful, social and offering easy ways to snap pictures and share the results. Both also feature a FM radio and a music player.
Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said the new models “don’t bring anything particularly new,” but he noted that they offer high-end cameras at modest prices. The retail prices for the phones are about $240 for the 6700 and $150 for the 7230, without carrier subsidies.
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