Nokia 603 will come with NFC

The Finnish phone giant’s latest NFC handset, the Nokia 603, is designed to appeal to first time smartphone users.

Nokia 603
NOKIA 603: NFC is 'an unexpected surprise'

Nokia has announced the Nokia 603, which it describes as “a colourful, affordable, no compromise smartphone preloaded with the latest apps and featuring single-tap pairing, sharing and tag reading with NFC.”

The 603 is a touch screen tablet-style device that runs Symbian Belle and comes preloaded with the firm’s Maps turn by turn navigation and social networking apps. The phone will also come with Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds Magic, both of which offer unlockable game features via NFC, and is expected to retail at around €200 (US$275) before taxes and subsidies.

Commenting on the launch, Nokia SVP Tuula Rytila said: “Whatever the price-point, our aim is to ensure all Nokia smartphones are crafted for use, have Nokia’s trusted quality, are better connected, and contain unexpected surprises like the ability to tap to pair and share with NFC.”

“All Nokia’s future Symbian smartphones will come with NFC and it’s a technology that’s maturing swiftly so should definitely be a consideration when you choose your next phone,” Nokia has also reaffirmed on its blog.

The phone maker has also announced the Nokia Luna, a stylish NFC-enabled Bluetooth headset. Simply touching the headset and an NFC phone together pairs the devices, and Luna can be connected to two handsets at one time, a feature designed for those who carry both work and personal phones. Voice prompts keep the user informed of pairing, connection and battery status. The Nokia Luna Bluetooth headset is expected to cost around €69 ($95).

The Nokia 603 smartphone and the Nokia Luna headset are both expected to ship before the end of 2011.

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