Nokia N79 NAM

Nokia today quickly followed up last week's introduction of the N85 for the US with a similar adaptation in the N79 NAM. The North America Model edition of Nokia's fashion smartphone adds US-native 3G data for AT&T's HSPA network and is otherwise as capable as the previously Europe-centered original, which comes with a five-megapixel camera, GPS and Wi-Fi. Its design focuses on swappable backplates that let users customize the look in a way normally off-limits to smartphones.

The handset is consciously positioned as an iPhone alternative with a 4GB microSD card in the box (up to 16GB through microSDHC), a full 3.5mm headphone jack and up to 24 hours of continuous music playback.

As with the N85, Nokia is opting out of selling the phone tied to a US carrier and is instead selling the Americanized N79 as an unsubsidized, unlocked model usable on T-Mobile or any other GSM, HSPA or UMTS network and without restrictions on software. It should be available online and at Nokia's flagship stores in Chicago and New York for $439 starting today.

By Electronista Staff