At last week"s Mobile World Congress expo in Barcelona, HMD Global revealed something of a blast from the past: a new, modern interpretation of the classic Nokia 3310 handset of yesteryear. Judging by the huge crowds of people - of all ages - who swarmed to the Nokia stand to get their hands on the new device throughout MWC, it seemed destined to be a hit.
And it seems that the excitement around the new 3310 hasn"t been limited just to those who attended the mobile industry event. According to Andrew Wilson from Carphone Warehouse, the UK"s largest independent device retailer, there"s been no shortage of interest among potential buyers away from the spotlight of the show stand.
"There has been an astonishing groundswell of interest in the Nokia 3310 following the launch announcement of this reimagined classic," he told The Telegraph. "Levels of pre-registrations at Carphone Warehouse are incredibly strong, proving that it"s not all hype and that consumers really want to get their hands on one."
The new 3310 differs from its spiritual predecessor in several key areas. It ditches the monochromatic display of the older model in favor of a new 2.4-inch QVGA color screen, and has a 2-megapixel rear camera. It also has a microSD card slot, as well as supporting a limited range of apps and games, including a new version of the classic Snake.
HMD Global said that the new Nokia 3310 will be released in the second quarter of this year, priced around €49 EUR (roughly £43 GBP), although UK-specific pricing has not yet been announced. You can get a further overview of the device in our hands-on video.
Carphone Warehouse is the UK"s exclusive retailer for the higher-end Nokia 6, which launched in China in January. Alongside the 6, the new Nokia 3 and 5 - lower-end and mid-range handsets, respectively - will also be available in the UK, although they won"t be exclusive to Carphone Warehouse. You can "register your interest" in these devices on the retailer"s site, to get updates on pricing and availability as they"re released.
Source: The Telegraph