The Nokia C2-03 and its brothers, the C2-02 and C2-06, were also unveiled at Nokia Connect overnight. Unlike the Nokia N9, they’re not running an all new OS, and they do come with buttons. But these are about as smart as non-smartphones get: read on to find out why.
The Nokia C2-03′s slide-out T9 keyboard form factor is nothing new, and nor is it ability to accept microSD cards or tune into FM radio. And as for the 240×320 resolution screen? That’s so 2006.
But the Nokia C2-03 is still worthy of note, because it’s cheap (just €77 unlocked), and the smartest dual-sim “dumbphone” we’ve seen. Its screne reacts to touchscreen prods like previous Nokia “Touch and Type” phones, and it can remember settings for up to five different SIM cards, and these can be switched in and out from the side of the phone, with no restart required.
The Nokia C2-03 is also the first S40 mobile to run the new Nokia Maps for feature phones. It comes preloaded with maps for your country out of the box, so downloads are kept to a minimum, and Nokia is even claminig it can still provide “turn-by-turn directions for drivers”, even without GPS.
We’re skeptical of this last claim, but overall it’s a smart move for mobile mapping software regardless since it keeps data costs down – and therefore makes it much more affordable.
The Nokia C2-03, and its single-SIM version the C2-01, while for a few pounds more the Nokia C2-06 gives you moor colour options (Metallic black, silver and lilac, or gold).
Out Q3 2011 | €77 (£68) | Nokia Conversations
