SAN DIEGO -- CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment --
Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) is showing off several devices here at the
CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 2009 show, which could gain the company more visibility in the North American market.
The Finnish cellphone giant had its first-ever 3G netbook, or "Booklet" in Nokia-speak, on the stand. The super-skinny PC runs Windows 7, has integrated 3G and WiFi, up to 12 hours of battery-life, and weighs in at 1.5 pounds. Price could be an issue, however, with the Best Buy-exclusive device
rumored to cost $600, around $100 more than many of these cheap lightweights. (See
Nokia's New PC.)
Verizon Wireless , meanwhile, has the "Twist," a flip phone with a difference. A 2.4-inch color display covers most of the front of the small, square, $99 phone but this swivels aside to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard underneath.
The world's No. 1 cellphone maker has struggled to re-establish a presence in the North American market in recent years. The firm had been hit by its lack of a CDMA portfolio, which is now starting to change, and -- as with most of its rivals -- the poor economy has not helped. (See
Nokia's CDMA Renaissance?)
The firm is hoping that some of the newer devices might breakthrough in the U.S. "We've all been working really hard," says Nokia Services Sales Manager, Chanse Arrington.
Nokia also had its N900 and E72 amongst other phones on its stand. Video showing off some of these gadgets should be available soon on
Unstrung.
— Dan Jones, Site Editor,
Unstrung
