Nokia turned heads this week when its new owners HMD revealed it was bringing back the iconic Nokia 3310 phone.
However, it looks like Australia might miss out on the nostalgia if it is not supported by the country's three mobile network operators.
The phone operates on 2.5G services, and all three network operators have or will shut off their 2G services this year. Australia's largest telco, Telstra shut off its 2G network at the end of 2016. Optus' network will shut down 2G in April and Vodafone will stop services in September.
Telstra has already confirmed it will not be offering the Nokia 3310.
@latikambourke While we appreciate the nostalgic value of an updated 3310, we've retired our 2G service and won't be offering the phone - MC
— Telstra (@Telstra) February 27, 2017
When asked whether the Nokia 3310 would be coming to Australia, a spokesperson from Nokia's parent company HMD told CRN: "We will start roll it out in Q2 to markets where a 2.5G device is demanded by our customers and consumers. We just announced it in MWC and we haven’t shared our plans for individual markets."
The Nokia 3310 is a reimagining of the classic smartphone originally released in 2000. It features Nokia's Series 30+ operating system and a 2.4-inch polarised and curved screen. The phone has a suggested price of €49 (AU$67).
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