Nokia takes another stab at jumpstarting mobile Internet

In another attempt to regain momentum in a downtrodden market, Nokia introduced three new phones, including one with a color-screen model and built-in camera.

Nokia expects to begin shipping the color screen 7650 phone--featuring support of high-speed Internet GPRS technology, enhanced multimedia messaging services and Java--in the second quarter of 2002 in Europe and Asia. Nokia said the less expensive, mass-market 5210 product and its 6510 would be shipped in the first quarter of next year.

This announcement comes on the heels of Nokia’s decision to spearhead an initiative to accelerate the mobile Internet market, as well as the company’s own position within it.

Because Nokia has about a third of the global handset market share, the phone launches could be important for the industry, which is expected to sell up to 400 million cell phones this year.

--Kelly Carroll, staff writer