Nokia intros streamlined 3109 Classic

Nokia this morning finished the week with the introduction of the 3109 Classic. Thought of as a balance between the basics and useful features, the phone includes Bluetooth and a microSD slot for its built-in music player but strips out any sort of digital camera; the choice suits both those who don't want to pay for the excess of a camera or businesses where photography could be a security risk, Nokia says. The phone also boasts other slightly above-basic features such as an e-mail client and speakerphone. Battery life is rated at 4 hours of active talk time and 16 days on standby.

The company says the 3109 Classic should be ready for Europe before the end of spring at a price of $189 before taxes or carrier plans. North American announcements were absent with the announcement, and the company didn't indicate its network range. However, the phone's similarity to the 3110 (which lacks 850MHz GSM support) suggests that the device will remain European-only in its current form.