CES 2010 latest news

Nokia E63

(Credit: Nokia)

Back in November, Nokia introduced the Nokia E63 and we figured we'd be waiting awhile for the smartphone to make its way to the United States. However, the wait wasn't that long as the company announced at CES 2009 that the E63 would be available in the United States in the coming weeks for an unlocked price of $279.

Now, while the price is still expensive when compared with other subsidized smartphones, it's really quite a drop and much more affordable than Nokia's other unlocked phones, which range from $500 to $700. Nokia's hope is that the lower price point will draw more consumers to buy the device, whereas previous E series smartphones, such as the Nokia E71 and Nokia E90 Communicator, have been aimed mostly at business users.

The U.S. version of the E63 has many of the same features as the European version. The Symbian S60-based smartphone also includes support for Microsoft Exchange, POP/IMAP e-mail accounts, basic personal information management tools, and a music and video player.

Like the E71, you can toggle between two different home views on the E63, depending on whether you're at work or at home. Other highlights include 2.3-inch, 16-million-color QVGA display, and Nokia Ovi support. There's a full HTML Web browser with Flash support and wireless options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and yes, it will support U.S. 3G bands (850/1900MHz HSDPA bands, meaning you'll get the 3.5G speeds with an AT&T SIM but not a T-Mobile one).

The Nokia E63 will be available in two colors (red or blue) and can be purchased at Nokia's flagship store or through online retailers.