Nokia takes Surge global with 6760
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jul 21st 2009 5:02PM
posted Jul 21st 2009 5:02PM
Nokia's North American product portfolio dude had mentioned in a recent interview that AT&T's Surge would end up seeing global duty, and sure enough, here it is. Known as the 6760 around the world (which complies with Nokia's typical four-digit naming scheme, by the bye), the phone's specs are basically identical to its Yankee cousin: 3.2 megapixel cam, 2.4-inch QVGA display, AGPS, S60 3.2, microSD expansion, and a side-sliding full QWERTY keyboard. "Typical Nokia" is not a phrase we'd use to describe the 6760, but here's the million-dollar question: can a phone clearly designed with AT&T's needs (and North America's needs) in mind sell elsewhere? Look for it to launch around Europe in this quarter for €199 (about $283) unlocked, with black, red, and white versions becoming available on a region-by-region basis.
How is this phone designed for AT&T/north american needs may I ask? It won't have the same branded apps that come pre-install from AT&T so I see this being a quite successful QWERTY slider for social media, as long as it has WiFi.
No WiFi on board, and I love the sarcastic question. It never ceases to amaze me how no matter what Nokia smartphone they have, they always have to kick it down a notch. Was it really too much trouble to keep the 3.2 MP shooter on board? I mean seriously. It's not like giving the consumer a better camera is going to drive up the cost of the device $20 or something. On a side note, they could've put a bigger display on this given how much real estate they have on the front there.
I'm going out on a limb here, but I think it satisfies the needs of those who want a QWERTY smartphone... no wait that's not right this isn't a smartphone. Ok, I got it. It fits the needs of those who want a full QWERTY, a really smart "feature phone," GPS, a 2MP camera, a barely decent size non touchscreen display, and a big battery with somehow horrible talk time all for a relatively cheap price. Wait, you mean to tell me I can pay another $20 and get an LG Xenon?
@Douglas - It is a smartphone--it's running Symbian S60.
I know. I was being very sarcastic. AT&T doesn't truly believe it is.
Wait, so this thing doesn't have a touchscreen and no numeric keypad on the front? So you have to open the full keyboard just to type a phone number? Unless Nokia is pulling a Pantech Duo on us this is an idiotic design!
How often do you type in phone number? Seriously. 95%+ of my calls are to people already in my contacts so I can easily make most of my calls without any keyboard. I like my phone optimised for the common case. It would really annoy me if someone put an extra 12 keys on the front my phone (making it much bigger) just so on the odd occasion I'm writing in a new number I don't have to pull out the keyboard. And if I am writing in a new number I'm almost certainly not on the move so why would I care if I have to pull out the keyboard.
Because it's quicker to dial a number you know aka your wife, girlfriend, etc... than to look it up in your contact list.
No, it's not quicker.
I don't know anybody's number. I use the phonebook so I don't have to.