Tech Shout!

Nokia has introduced the N80 Internet Edition 3G handset, which has a dual purpose. It can be used as mobile phone and also as a voice over IP (VoIP) phone.

According to Nokia the N80 Internet Edition has built-in VoIP into the user interface, and users can download third-party VoIP calling applications. The phone has integrated VoIP Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for users to be able to use any VoIP service. It includes a wireless LAN wizard to find and configure wireless Internet access.

The N80 Internet Edition is a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE slider phone with 802.11g Wi-Fi capability built-in, including Bluetooth. It sports a 2.1-inch high-resolution 352 x 416 display, a 3-megapixel camera, 40MB memory, and FM radio. Nokia says the phone will offer up to three hours of talk time, and eight days operation in stand-by mode.

Apart from handling work-related functions such as e-mail and text-messaging, this Wi-Fi enabled multimedia phone allows users to find and map locations, take pictures, share photos, browse books, and record and send instant voice messages.

The advanced version of N80 comes with the Yahoo! Mobile Search application as also Yahoo! Go for Mobile. Besides, the phone has Amazon’s MobiPocket Reader, an application for reading books.

Ralph Eric Kunz, vice president - multimedia, Nokia, said, “Mobilizing the Internet is a major strategic focus for Nokia, and I am excited to see how people can participate on the Internet using the Nokia N80 Internet Edition.”

“The Internet has evolved from static Web pages to communities and people sharing experiences. I believe it will be multimedia computers, such as the Nokia N80 Internet Edition, that will be primary devices for people to participate in this phenomenon, in addition to PCs,” Kunz added.

According to reports, the Internet Edition also carries other Nokia software, including its Web Browser plus a new client called Download that can be used to download other compatible programs for the device.

The Nokia N80 Internet Edition comes in two stylish colors, Pearl Black and Bronze, and is expected to ship around mid-September 2006. The pricing details have not yet been revealed.