IRVING, Texas-Nokia Corp. announced two new CDMA phone deals, moves that follow on the company’s promise to expand its CDMA phone business, but ones that do not involve big-name CDMA carriers.
Nokia said it will sell its advanced 1xRTT-capable 3586i through U.S. Cellular, and its low-end 1x 2270 through MetroPCS. Pricing details were not immediately released.
Of the two major CDMA carriers in the United States-Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS-only Sprint sells Nokia phones. And so far Sprint is selling only one low-end, voice-only Nokia model, the 3585i.
Nokia’s CDMA situation in the United States comes several months after Nokia showcased five new CDMA phones at the CTIA Wireless trade show earlier this year. Nokia introduced its lower-end 2270, 2280 and 2285 CDMA 1xRTT phones, as well as the color-screen, Java-capable 3586i and the advanced 6585.
To date in the United States, Sprint sells the 3585i. Verizon does not currently sell any Nokia phones. Leap Wireless sells two Nokia phones, the 6370 and the 3570, while MetroPCS offers the 3585 and U.S. Cellular sells the 3585i, as well as the two newly announced phones. Western Wireless Corp. sells the Nokia 3285.
