Nokia launches three Symbian Belle NFC smartphones

The three new devices range in price from €180 to €290 and run a new version of Symbian that integrates NFC more deeply, allowing pictures to be shared, devices to be paired and check-ins to be made with a single tap.

NOKIA: Three new NFC handsets

Nokia has unveiled three new NFC smartphones as well as an updated version of the Symbian operating system and an NFC-enabled Bluetooth headset.

The Nokia 700, Nokia 701 and Nokia 600 phones will all begin shipping during the third quarter of 2011. Each comes with the new Symbian ‘Belle’ operating system. With Belle, Nokia says, “NFC is now deeply integrated into the operating system, so you can share pictures, connect with accessories, and check-in — all with just a tap.”

  • Nokia 700The Nokia 700 measures just 110mm by 50.7mm by 9.7mm and weighs 96g. The phone includes a 1GHz processor, 3.2-inch screen, GPS, a compass and a 5-megapixel camera as well as NFC. The 700 will be available in cool grey, silver and white, coral red, peacock blue and purple versions and will retail for around €270 (US$389) before local taxes or operator subsidies.
  • Nokia 701The Nokia 701 features a 3.5-inch IPS LCD display with ClearBlack technology which, Nokia says, makes it “the brightest smartphone screen to date”. The Nokia 701 also features a 1GHz processor and an 8-megapixel camera as well as NFC. It will be available in steel dark, silver light, amethyst violet and white and will retail at around €290 (US$418) before local taxes or operator subsidies.
  • Nokia 600The Nokia 600 is designed as an all-in-one entertainment hub.  It features a 1GHz processor, a 3.2-inch screen and a 5-megapixel camera as well as NFC. The Nokia 600 will be available in black, white, pink and lime and will cost around €180 (US$260) before local taxes and operator subsidies.

Nokia has also launched an NFC-enabled headset, the Nokia Essence Bluetooth Stereo Headset which NFC phone users can pair with by just tapping the phone on the controller.

The handset maker has made a video to demonstrate the new Symbian Belle user interface, including its NFC picture sharing and device pairing capabilities:

Nokia has also made available footage of the Symbian Belle launch presentation, include a short demonstration of its NFC capabilities. NFC picture sharing is shown from 07:38 in the video:

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