Nokia 6650 flip coming to AT&T to redeem the N75

Well, here's one we didn't see coming: it seems that AT&T has wised up to the fact that Americans like their Symbian (well, at least a few of 'em do, anyway) and wants to keep S60-equipped options on the table. Yes, granted, AT&T is a founding member of the Symbian Foundation, but the proof is in the pudding, and the last Nokia smartphone to land there was the N75 in May of last year -- an eternity by mobile standards. More recently, the N75 grew up, got sexy, picked up some brushed metal, and emerged in Europe earlier this year; now, it's surprisingly and unexpectedly been retooled with North American 3G spectrum. It's got a 2.2-inch QVGA primary display, 160 x 128 secondary, 2-megapixel cam, AT&T Navigator (which means GPS), push-to-talk support, and HSDPA 850 / 1900 to compliment quadband EDGE. We don't know exactly when it's coming, but for S60 fans who cringe at the thought of having to blow several hundred on an unlocked set every time they want some fresh hardware, this should be welcome news.

[Thanks, Al and Oscar M.]

[Chris @ Aug 26th 2008 11:53PM]

Flip phones just don't seem interesting anymore, sorry. nice specs though I guess.

[scott @ Aug 27th 2008 12:55AM]

yeah..it's kind of weird..the only flip phone i really still like is the Nokia N93i

[Freakin Ijit @ Aug 27th 2008 5:36AM]

The Age of the Dumb Smartphone is rolling in.

Who needs programmability when everything most folks want is "hardwired" into the phone up front?

[Dave D @ Aug 26th 2008 11:55PM]

What the heck!?! is this ALL that AT&T could do? We see an awesome post about some beautiful Nokia phones (here on engadget) just today, and the only update to their nokia line that the bell behemoth could muster is a friggin gps equipped flip? HEY AT&T: I want a Nokia smartphone on your network, and not for the full $600 price tag! take the hint from the iphone... subsidize an attractive handset and raise your service rates, and people will come running! This is so typical.

[nDee @ Aug 27th 2008 5:48AM]

It's just true that Nokia doesn't really appreciate American market,
while spending billions on ads over the shore, Indians queue up to buy 1100s.

[Cole @ Aug 27th 2008 9:09AM]

@nDee, for that matter, no cell phone company really cares about the U.S. market. I guess 300 million people is just to small for them. Even Motorola doesn't care and its based right here in the US. They send all their good phones overseas.

[sr @ Aug 28th 2008 10:20AM]

It's because we are cheap idiots. We won't buy anything unless we let the carriers fondle our balls first and then grab ahold of them with a tight grip for 2 years - all to save $150 on a phone. See, it's very hard for a company to care about a market where most people are so "in love" with their carriers. I'd love my carrier if I let it fondle my balls, I'd have no choice.

[Conor Kirkpatrick @ Aug 27th 2008 1:53AM]

ohhhhh myyyyy gooooooooooodddd

[MastrCake @ Aug 27th 2008 12:03AM]

Whoa... A new simbian phone on AT&T when there hasn't been a decent one since... (almost) ever!!!

Let's all hope that this phone lives up to Nokia's standards, NOT AT&T's.

What are AT&T's standards? Here's a quick rundown...

Delayed Smartphone updates (BJ2 Windows Mobile 6.1... still very pissed about this)
Cruddy phone choice (with the possible exeption of the iPhone)
Expensive rate plans
Tons of dropped calls (a lot more since they added 3G to Boise)
And let's not forget... their customer service SUCKS!!!

And that's what I get for being a loyal AT&T wireless/Cingular/New AT&T customer for over 6 years? Pfft...

[Mitch @ Aug 27th 2008 1:05AM]

There comes a time in every mans life when he just has to change providers, if they piss you off that much I'm sure there has to be a less crappy provider in you area since just about any would be better than AT&T.....

[sr @ Aug 28th 2008 10:42AM]

There comes a time in life where you consider buying your phone unlocked. 'nuff said.

[Conor Kirkpatrick @ Aug 28th 2008 10:31PM]

omg, i just lost the game :(

[John M @ Aug 27th 2008 12:12AM]

Displaying a black and white image on an external color display? That's such an odd choice, I double checked the specs see if it was really a B&W screen on a higher end phone like that but it turns out it is a color secondary display and they just chose to show a black and white version of a color logo on it.

How odd.

[JViz @ Aug 27th 2008 12:13AM]

No WiFi?

[cesium @ Aug 27th 2008 12:53AM]

You expect wifi on this mediocre flip phone??

[JViz @ Aug 27th 2008 1:18AM]

I didn't realize it was mediocre for a flip phone. Which flip phones have WiFi?

[cesium @ Aug 27th 2008 1:30AM]

the BlackBerry KickStart

[Conor Kirkpatrick @ Aug 28th 2008 3:25PM]

WOW! everyone knows that the Moto v120 freaking has wifi! :P

[JViz @ Aug 27th 2008 2:22AM]

Too bad joikuspot or wmwifirouter won't run on a Blackberry.

[Alberto @ Aug 28th 2008 12:45AM]

Nokia has some really kool semi-affordable phones and ATT goes and nabs this one. The 6600 is way cooler.

[sr @ Aug 28th 2008 10:16AM]

You mean the 6600 from 2003? Welcome to 2008 sir. I hope our telephones will meet your high standards.

[CraziestGadgets.com @ Aug 27th 2008 1:28AM]

the black trim on a silver phone is an interesting combination...

[avester @ Aug 27th 2008 2:02AM]

I have 6120c black with silver trimming.

Feels good man.

[Richy @ Aug 27th 2008 1:46AM]

Wow, have I just woken up in 1997?

[Cash @ Aug 27th 2008 1:59AM]

You know what Americans *don't* like? Ugly as f*ck crappy flip phones as some sort of pathetic consolation prize for all the sweet high end candybar phones we won't be getting. Thanks Nokia... I know exactly what hole you can shove this garbage up.

[Rich @ Aug 27th 2008 4:48AM]

Why blame Nokia? It was obviously AT&T's decision to pick the worst S60 phone around.

[Skope @ Aug 27th 2008 2:56AM]

Well still no hope for real S60 device for ATT i guess :(

[Rich @ Aug 27th 2008 4:46AM]

Why did AT&T decide to release this Plain Jane when there's so many good Nokia smartphones about? Surely the N95 8GB or E71 would have been a better choice?

I assume it's not coincidence that AT&T have picked up the first Nokia smartphone in ages without WiFi...

[Peter @ Aug 27th 2008 8:08AM]

Because that would probably screw up their pricing scheme. They call a Smartphone a device that has a full QWERTY and charge you $30 per month in data for it. While that would be fine for the e71, a T9-based smartphone like the N95 or e66 (or almost anything else from the N or E series) would mess up their pricing system. Good thing for consumers, yes since $15 per month is much better than $30, but bad for the company.

[PG @ Aug 27th 2008 9:24AM]

Hmm.. I do not see how this phone improves on N75. Still no WI-Fi and navigation is a paid service, not a built-in GPS chip. Oh, and they removed FM tuner (biggie for me). Guess I'll stick with N75 until I can pony up enough cash for E71.

[John Stracke @ Aug 27th 2008 1:30PM]

The N75 is my third Nokia phone with FM. I think I tried it once, when I got my 6225, and never again. They all have the same flaw: they need something external plugged in to act as the antenna. If I were in the habit of using a wired headset, I might use it, but otherwise it's just annoying.

[lwalker @ Aug 27th 2008 9:53AM]

Oh my god. I new flip phone yes! It doesn't have anything I want, yes!!! AT&T has the best phones of any carrier in THE WORLD!! If anyone believes anything that was just said, then you have problems. AT&T has put SHIT out since the IPHONE, we know it's the greatest invention since, well since the iphone and AT&T wouldn't bring any competent competition to the IPHONE but come on!!! The VU? The Tilt? Maybe if I was 50 and I wanted my childs friends to think I'm hip and I was going to the disco with my 20 something girlfiend while I'm in the middle of my MLC (mid life crisis). Fuck off with these shitty free phones!! Give me something of substance other than the Invision, 6550, Bold, flipphone etc.

[Jack @ Aug 27th 2008 10:05AM]

Monochrome external screen? Not right...

[sr @ Aug 28th 2008 10:15AM]

NO what we cringe at is signing up for 2 year contracts to get a crippled, locked phone. That's what we cringe at.

[Tony Benjaminz @ Aug 29th 2008 10:03AM]

Bring the N82 to AT&T!!