If you thought the rebirth of classic Nokia handsets was a short-term fad, think again. HMD Global, the business vehicle established specifically to create and market Nokia-branded mobile devices, has announced a new 3G version of the class Nokia 3310 feature phone.
The news comes seven months after VentureBeat reported that the age-old classic was being brought back from the dead with a facelift and some features fit for the modern era, such as Bluetooth. The phone packed just a 2.5G connection — which sounds like it should suffice for a phone that’s not built for heavy streaming or internet use.
The retro phone proved popular, selling out in many markets, and this demand is seemingly behind the company’s decision to launch an upgraded Nokia 3310, replete with 3G connectivity.
Above: Nokia 3310 3G: Charcoal
HMD Global has now revealed that a 3G incarnation will be landing from mid-October, though it has only provided pricing in euros. The phone will retail at a “global average” price of €69, which is roughly $80 USD. The 2.5G Nokia 3310 never made it to the U.S, because it wouldn’t work on U.S. networks, but a 3G version had been rumored after HMD Global filed an application with the FCC for a 3G device that resembled the 3310’s model number. Now that a 3G version is on the way, VentureBeat has confirmed with HMD Global that the Nokia 3310 is indeed launching in the U.S. No specific date or pricing has been confirmed.
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“Our reimagining of the Nokia 3310 has been a global and cultural phenomenon,” said HMD Global’s chief product officer, Juho Sarvikas. “In a world dominated by smartphones, the mix of nostalgia and a beautiful phone that just keeps going has captured people’s imagination. Our fans around the world have been asking for this iconic phone to support 3G. Fans asked, we listened, and today welcome the Nokia 3310 3G.”
Support for 3G will also future-proof the phone in other markets that may phase out 2G connectivity at a later point. However, bumping up the connectivity comes with some trade-offs, as it now promises just 6.5 hours of talk time, compared to the more than 22 hours on the 2.5G version.
In addition to 3G, the new Nokia 3310 also sports new features, including a customizable interface that lets you change the icon colors and positions on the screen. There is no word yet on whether HMD Global will be pre-installing surveys on the device as it has done with other Nokia phones this year.
The Nokia brand has been brought back to a number of mobile phones over the past year, from cheap feature phones and mid-range smartphones all the way up to the Nokia 8 flagship last month.
