Nokia X3-02 Touch and Type deals & review

Nokia hopes to bring modern technology to the more affordable phone market with its Touch and Type. This handset comes with full touch sensitivity on its screen while at the same time offering a more conventional numerical keypad underneath. This design is not a new idea and has been employed by a number of other manufacturers, but the X3 Touch and Type marks the first such model to be released by the world´s leading phone manufacturer.

While most touchscreen phones on the market sport very large screens the display on the X3 Touch and Type is a more conventional 2.4". While this may seemingly reduce the functionality compared to the larger screened phones available it still provides an excellent means to scroll menus and applications. The added bonus of this is that the X3 can be used like a conventional handset when texting with the numerical keypad and at the same time, and with the same hand, allows you to easily navigate around the phone´s operating system.

The interface is not the only place you get to enjoy touch sensitivity, as there are many downloadable applications you can use on the X3, as well as many touch sensitive games including Guitar Hero 5 which comes included free with the phone. With access to Nokia´s Ovi Store you can download more games as well as music, videos and other content. Ovi Store can be accessed via 3G or Wi-Fi, allowing you quick and painless access to the internet wherever you may be.

The X3 Touch and Type also include access to Ovi Music Unlimited, which provides you with access to over 11 million songs. If, in the unlikely event that you are unable to find something to listen to amongst this gargantuan collection, you can still copy over your own music and video to the device. The X3 Touch and Type supports 16GB microSD cards to complement the 50MB on board, providing you with ample room to store your favourite tunes.

Included on the Touch and Type is a camera with a nice resolution of 5 megapixels. This includes a 4x digital zoom but does not come with a flash or fancy features such as face recognition. Images captured on the camera can be saved for later, transferred to your home computer via USB or uploaded to share online.

The Opera Mini browser allows for full web browsing thanks to its support for Java and FlashLite, and will automatically optimise web content for use on a phone. Support for video streaming means you can enjoy services such as YouTube while on the move, and there is quick and easy access to popular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. As well as support for SMS, MMS and email through Nokia Messaging Service, the X3 supports audio messaging, Flash messaging and various instant messaging services including Ovi Chat.

While the X3 possesses many features people look for in a phone today, including social network support and ample entertainment features, it may seem fairly standard for a mid-range phone. The thing that undoubtedly sets this phone apart from the crowd is its combination of touchscreen and traditional keypad, which makes it ideal for those wanting to enjoy touch sensitivity while at the same time enjoying the texting convenience of a physical keypad. It will also be ideally suited for those wishing to dip their toes into the world of touchscreens but who are unsure of diving right in just yet.