Nokia Astound coming via T-Mobile on April 6

Nokia’s utmost loyalty towards the Symbian platform further extends with its newest offering dubbed Astound that is slated for release in the USA starting April 6 via T-Mobile. The all new Nokia Astound promises an improved user interface alongside 8 megapixel camera with dual-flash LED, 720p HD camera and a 3.5-inch capacitive touch AMOLED screen.

The device enables users to seamlessly stay connected. It features three fully customizable homescreens, allowing quick access to email, check the latest from Facebook and Twitter. It comes pre-loaded with games like Fruit Ninja and provides access to the latest music with the Slacker Radio app.

“As millions more consumers make the switch to smartphones, Nokia is proud to offer an alternative that is not only easy and fun to use, but is also very sexy and sleek, unlike anything in its price point,” said Mark Slater, vice president of sales, Nokia. “With a user experience rounded out by Nokia’s Ovi services, including Maps and Store, consumers will be delighted to discover Nokia’s premium design quality with no compromises on services and apps, made affordable with T-Mobile.”

“As T-Mobile continues to make owning a smartphone easy and affordable, we are thrilled to introduce the high-quality design and entertainment experience of the Nokia Astound,” said Andrew Morrison, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “Offering the features of a high-end smartphone at a great price, the Nokia Astound is sure to appeal to a broad array of consumers.”

Nokia Astound’s AMOLED touchscreen has been safeguarded with ultrathin, damage-resistant glass alongside surrounded by stainless steel. It equips the latest commercial version of Ovi Maps along with free voice-guided and turn-by-turn navigation. The handset also brings in automotive grade maps for the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean while it tags along refined search engines and Wi-Fi positioning and maps of public transit lines. Consumers can discover new apps, games and themes from the Ovi Store. The Nokia Astound was showcased at the CTIA Wireless in Orlando, Fla.

The Nokia Astound will be available across the globe starting April 6 through T-Mobile retail stores and online for a price of $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreement.

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Nokia Astound for T-Mobile coming April 6th for $80 (hands-on with video)

Want to know where those next 150 million Symbian devices that Nokia wants to sell are going to come from? Well, here's a little sliver of your answer. We've just swung by Nokia's swank dinner event well outside CTIA's convention center grounds in Orlando tonight to check out the official introduction of the rumored Astound for T-Mobile. Make no mistake -- this is a straight-up C7 in every sense of the word, featuring the same 3.5-inch AMOLED display, 8 megapixel camera, and 720p capture as the original announced last year atop Symbian^3 -- so the only real differences are the T-Mobile branding (or should that be AT&T branding?) tastefully featured along the bottom chin and a slight platform bump to Symbian^3.1, which we're told features "some, but not all" of the PR2.0 update's features like portrait QWERTY support and a refreshed browser. Interestingly, the carrier will be offering WiFi calling on this one -- just as it did on the E73 Mode -- and you'll be able to do unrestricted video calling over Qik thanks to the front-facing cam. Look for it to launch on April 6th for $79.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate on contract (and pre-orders start tomorrow). Follow the break for our hands-on video and Nokia's press release.

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