Nokia 3310 Release Date News: Throwback Device Gets 3G Configuration Making US Release Possible
After months of being left out of the rest of the world, fans of the classic Nokia gadgets in the United States might soon experience the throwback mobile device – the reborn Nokia 3310 – after HMD Global announced an upgraded 3G version of it.
Last Thursday, HMD Global announced they would release the Nokia 3310 3G "with fresh new colours and a new user interface that lets fans pick a theme to suit their mood."
Earlier this year, HMD graced the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain with the unveiling of the first version of the Nokia 3310. To many, especially those who were old enough to own a cellular phone during the last year of the 20th century, the original model of the Nokia 3310 is a classic. That explains the market success of the re-designed Nokia 3310 in 2017 where it is available, such as the United Kingdom.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Unfortunately, the first model announced in February only supported a 2G or 2.5G network which will not work in the United States, and for that reason, the device was never launched there. However, the launch of the 3G version could give some hope to U.S. consumers wanting to experience the throwback phone.
While HMD Global's Thursday announcement did not specifically mention a U.S. release, documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission spotted by CNET showed that a device with model number TA-1036 – believed to be referring to the upgraded Nokia 3310 since the first version was known as TA-1030 – was seeking certification for a possible launch in the United States.
The company is yet to confirm the speculation, but they did say that the upcoming device "can be enjoyed in even more countries around the world" because of the 3G upgrade.
It is also important to note that HMD Global has always implied that they had plans to cater to the U.S. market looking to purchase the new Nokia 3310. According to an earlier CNET report, shortly after the launch of the Nokia 3310, HMD's head of global marketing Patrick Mercanton said: "It's not that we're not not launching in the US. It's that the US takes a little bit longer to ramp up."
The Nokia 3310 3G will be released in "mid-October."
