It was no coincidence that Nokia would unveil three brand new social-networking QWERTY phones a day after Microsoft’s counterpart Kin devices. These Nokia Messaging Cseries and Eseries smartphones are meant “to put better messaging and social networking tools in the hands of more people around the world at affordable prices.”
Nokia C3
Nokia’s cheapest phone to feature a physical QWERTY keyboard, the C3 comes in hot pink, slate grey, and golden, and is based on the Series 40 platform (the first physical QWERTY S40 phone). It attempts to bring smartphone functionality to the entry-level market. The C3 is treated as a low-end device, and does not feature 3G or A-GPS, or have any fancy sensors or meters. It features Ovi Mail, and has native Twitter and Facebook applications. It also has instant messaging through Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk and Ovi Chat. Approximate price: 90 EUR or Rs. 5,500
Nokia C6
Possibly the most versatile and feature-rich of the pack, it offers horizontal-sliding QWERTY keyboard phone that features a resistive touchscreen, comes in black or white, and is based on the Series 60 platform. It has a wide range of additional functionalities, and offers 3G connectivity, apart from a variety of sensors and meters. It also offers Facebook, Hi5, MySpace applications, Ovi Maps, Ovi Suite, Ovi Store, Ovi Share, Ovi Contacts, Mail for Exchange, and such PC applications as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Organizer, and Lotus Notes. Approximate price: 220 EUR or Rs. 13,500
Nokia E5
The business connectivity/messaging powerhouse, the Nokia E5 is based on the Series 60 platform, is the successor of the E63, and comes in carbon black, chalk white, copper brown, silver grey, and sky blue. It features a special People-Centric homescreen, Ovi Suite (PC/Mac), Nokia Messaging email, Facebook client, Mail for Exchange, Nokia Messaging IM, Easy Dialling, Calendar Office tools, OVI Contacts 1.1, Lotus Notes Traveler, World Traveler, Vlingo, F-Secure, VPN client, Device management (TARM support), VoIP. Approximate price: 180 EUR or Rs. 11,000
Check out the complete specifications below:
| Phone | C3 | C6 | E5 |
| Dimensions | 115.5 x 58.1 x 13.6 mm | 113.4 x 53 x 16.8 mm | 115 x 58.9 x 12.8 mm |
| Weight | 114 g | 150g | 126g |
| Operating System | Series 40 | S60 5th Edition, Symbian OS v9.4 | S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2, Symbian OS version v. 9.3 |
| Screen Size, Type, Resolution: | 2.4-inch,320×240 TFT | 3.2-inch, 640×360 nHD | 2.36-inch, 320×240 QVGA |
| Input | QWERTY keyboard | QWERTY keyboard, resistive touchscreen | QWERTY keyboard |
| Camera | 2 MP (1600 x 1200 pixels) 4x digital zoom | 5 MP (2584 x 1938 pixels) 4x digital zoom autfocus with LED flash | 5 MP 3x digital zoom Zoom up to 3x (digital), LED flash with full focus |
| Storage | 55 MB internal memory, expandable to up to 8 GB with microSD card | 200 MB internal memory, expandable to up to 16 GB with microSD card | Free user memory: 256 MB MicroSD memory card slot, hot swappable, up to 32 GB |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 2.1 EDR wireless connectivity, High-Speed USB 2.0 (micro USB connector), 3.5 mm AV connector | Bluetooth 2.1 EDR wireless connectivity, High-Speed USB 2.0 (micro USB connector), 3.5 mm AV connector | Stereo Bluetooth version 2.0 (A2DP & AVRCP), High-Speed USB 2.0 (micro USB connector), 3.5 mm AV connector |
| Data Network | GPRS class A, EGPRS class A, WiFi 802.11b/g, | GPRS class A, WiFi 802.11b/g, CSD, HSCSCD, WCDMA, HSDPA, DTM | HSDPA cat9, WCDMA, GSM GPRS data class 32, GSM EGPRS data class 32, DTM32, EDGE, WiFi 802.11b/g |
| Battery life | BL-5J 1320 mAh Li-Ion battery Talk time (maximum): up to 8 hours Standby time (maximum): up to 500 hours | BL-4J 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery Talk time (maximum): GSM 420 mins WCDMA 300 mins Standby time (maximum): GSM 400 h WCDMA 400 h | BL-4D 1200 mAh Li-Ion battery Talk time (maximum): GSM up to 18 h 30 mins WCDMA up to 5 h 30 mins Standby time (maximum): GSM 705 h WCDMA 705 h |
| Misc | Stereo FM | Stereo FM, Integrated GPS, A-GPS receivers, Accelerometer, Orientation sensor, Proximity sensor, Ambient light detector, | Internal vibra and antenna, A-GPS, Stereo FM |