Nokia announces 'new era' with four new phones

Nokia today announced the "beginning of a new era" for the company with the launch of four new mobile phones, including a full-screen touch-based smartphone.

"Earlier this year, we outlined a comprehensive strategy to change our course," said Stephen Elop, the president and CEO of Nokia.
    
"Innovation is at the heart of our strategy and today we took important steps to demonstrate a new pace of innovation at Nokia. It's the beginning of a new era for Nokia," he added.
    
Nokia introduced two dual SIM phone Nokia C2-03 and Nokia C2-06 and a single sim phone, Nokia C2-02.
    
All three models are built on the Symbian operating system S 40.
    
Nokia today announced its own internet browser and these phones have the Nokia browser loaded on it.
    
"Nokia browser can compress data size up to 90 per cent. All phones to be shipped in future will Nokia browser loaded on them," Nokia Executive Vice-President, Mobile Phones, Mary McDowell said.
    
Nokia which has tied up with Microsoft for launching mobile phones on the Windows platform, restated its commitment to Symbian.
    
"This July, Nokia will start shipping Nokia N8s, E7s, C7s and C6-01s with the new Symbian Anna software update," Elop said.
    
By the end of August, existing owners of these devices can also download Symbian Anna.
    
Elop added that over the next 12 months, Nokia plans to launch up to 10 new Symbian-based smartphones in the market.
    
Nokia also revealed its latest smartphone, the Nokia N9, an all-screen device that will allow user to navigate the phone by swiping on the screen.
    
"The phone application will follow direction of the finger on the screen," Nokia Senior Vice-President, Design, Marko Ahtisaari said.
    
The estimated retail price of the Nokia C2-02 and C2-03 is approximately 75 euros (USD 105) and for the Nokia C2-06, it is 80 euros (USD 112). All of the C2 series devices are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2011 while the N9 smartphone will be launched by the company at the end of this year.
    
The company will announce the price of the N9 close to its launch.