Nokia announces three new handsets focused on social networking

Nokia’s big announcement today wasn’t, as rumoured, the company’s high-end N8 handset. Instead, the company revealed three low to mid-ranged handsets all boasting a heavy social networking focus.

The E5, C3, and C6 all feature full QWERTY keyboards, but the form factors vary considerably.

Undoubtedly the most attractive handset of the trio from a gadgety-gamey consumer perspective has to be the Symbian^1 powered C6. It’s the only device here to feature a touchscreen (3.2” to be precise) interface, incorporating the QWERTY keyboard as a slider.

The C6 will feature a 5-megapixel camera, a 3.5mm headphone socket, and Ovi Maps with free navigation. It’ll be available in the second quarter of 2010 at an estimated price of EUR 220.

The C3 is the first device in Nokia’s popular and affordable Series 40 range to feature a full keyboard and social networking access from the main menu. It also features a 2.4” QVGA screen and a 2-megapixel camera. Oh, and it too will feature a handy 3.5mm headphone socket, which is always nice to see in an entry level mobile.

It’s expected in the second quarter of 2010.

The E5 looks fairly similar, but is actually the latest entry in Nokia’s Blackberry-rivalling ‘Business Smartphone’ range. It boasts all the features expected by your average too-busy-to-breath professional sort, but also includes the one-click social networking features that will make Facebook networking in the sauna a cinch.

The E5 will also feature a 3.5mm headphone socket and a 5-megapixel camera, so it’s no slouch on the general usage front. It should be with us in the third quarter of 2010.