Based on the hugely popular Symbian S60 3rd Edition operating system, the Nokia 6290 is designed to be a high volume 3G handset to take advantage of all of the new 3G networks we saw appearing around the world in 2006.

The 6290 is not overloaded with high tech features, which has allowed Nokia to keep the price down. But it does have a fabulous - 2.2-inch QVGA internal screen capable of displaying 16 million colours.

The Nokia 6290 is an average size for a modern 3G phone. Thewy tend to be a little on the bulky side and a little heavy, but Nokia has done well to fit this phone into 88 cubic centimetres (94×50x20.8mm) and at 115 grams, it’s not the lightest phone you’ll buy, but again, its quite acceptable in the 3G world.

Price point is probably the key word here and while enthusiasts may not be impressed by the 50MB onboard storage or the standard WCDMA 2100 384Kbps speeds (GPRS/EDGE also), the 2 megapixel camera, email access, MP3 player and video calling are all going to appeal to the mass market new to 3G technology.

For the “hectic professional” Nokia not only has its push technology on this phone (an easy to use Wizard promises to help you set it up) it also has a number of practical new features, like multiple alarms, an interactive world travel application, web access and search with network dependent location services.

“Simplicity is what makes the Nokia 6290 smartphone so smart,” said Kai Oistamo, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Mobile Phones, Nokia.

“The Nokia 6290 combines the collective power of S60 3rd Edition and 3G in an easy-to-use, attractively designed package. With the 3G subscriber base expected to double over the next year, there is a strong need for 3G models like the Nokia 6290 smartphone in our portfolio,” he says.

Fast access keys for core functions, intuitive menu structure Setup Wizards all work together to keep new users on track, while good support for email attachments (PPT, PDF, Word and Excel) keep them productive.

The 2 megapixel camera has a 4X digital zoom and supports serial shooting of up to 15 images. An internal camera takes care of video calling requirements and an external screen delivers up notifications and the like.

The MP3 music player, which will probably require you to equip the device with a microSD expansion card to compensate for the 50MB user memory Nokia gave the device, will support MP3, M4A and eAAC+ formats.

Bluetooth, Stereo FM Radio with Visual Radio, USB connectivity, 2.5mm audio plug all round out the feature set.

The Nokia 6290 is Nokia’s first mid-range smartphone to offer S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1.

Announced at the Symbian Smartphone Show in October, S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1 opens up a world of possibilities, highlighted by an enhanced single browser that supports both full Web and mobile optimised content.

There is also available a wide variety of add-on applications that can turn the phone into a highly personalized, versatile device. The applications range from games and entertainment to powerful business and navigation applications.

The Nokia 6290 phone has a talk-time of up to 3.5 hours and a standby battery time of up to 10 days.

The Nokia 6290 is expected to begin shipping in Q1 2007 with an estimated retail price of €325 euros (A$584) before subsidies or taxes.