Nokia Unlocks Luna, N Series For U.S. Sales

By Joseph Palenchar On Jun 18 2007 - 6:00am

New unlocked phones in Nokia's N series and fashion series are quadband models that operate in all major U.S. GSM networks. One operates in U.S. W-CDMA networks as well.

Here are the product details:

N series: The two latest unlocked N series models, the N75 and N76, are available at suggested retails of $429 and $499, respectively, without contract. The N75 has also been available through AT&T/Cingular channels in an AT&T/Cingular-branded box with contract since May 4 at a recommended $199 after rebates with two-year contract, AT&T said.

The N75 is a quadband GSM/EDGE model that also operates in W-CDMA mode in the U.S. 850/1,900MHz bands. It lacks HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access). The chrome-and-magnesium 4.06-ounce N76, which is the thinnest N-series phone at 0.54 inches, is quadband GSM/EDGE but operates in W-CDMA mode only in foreign 2.1GHz networks.

Both models feature dedicated front-cover music keys, built-in stereo speakers, microSD slot, FM radio, 2-megapixel camera with integrated flash, a 2.4-inch color display, on-device photo editing, push-to-talk service and MPEG-4 video capture and playback. Both models are based on the Symbian S60 OS.

New fashion model: The 8600 Luna slider, made of smoked glass and black stainless steel, will be available on an unlocked basis for about $800 sometime this summer.

The quadband GSM/EDGE Luna 8600 slider features nearly opaque smoked glass, soft-touch stainless steel and keypad illumination that pulsates from beneath the glass case when the phone is in standby mode. When a consumer slides the Luna open, the phone's tactile-feedback keypad emerges from a smoked-glass housing.

The premium phone, named after the goddess of moonlight, will be Nokia's first phone to use a single micro-USB port that merges charging, audio and data connectivity.