CONSUMERS who want the perks of satellite tracking on their handsets without having to pay top dollar will have an additional choice with the launch of the Nokia 6110 Navigator.

The new 3G phone comes with integrated GPS (global positioning system) capability and pre-installed maps of Singapore and Malaysia on its bundled memory card to help users find their way around by car or foot. With the exception of its two-megapixel built-in camera, the Nokia 6110 bears a strong resemblance to the N95 - Nokia's premium converged mobile device - on the functionality and design front.

Both are slider-designed handsets with support for high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), a technology that allows consumers to surf the Internet and download files at greater speeds than normal third-generation mobile networks.

Multimedia frills like an integrated radio tuner and music player come standard in both devices, along with support for memory expansion through micro SD cards.

But unlike the N95 which crossed the thousand-dollar mark when it was first launched, the Nokia 6110 will come with a less hefty price tag. The handset is now available for $798 without operator contract and as a time-limited offer, the firm is sweetening the deal with a free $126 accessory kit which includes a windscreen mount and car charger.

In the near future, the Finnish handset giant plans to make satellite-positioning a standard feature across a wider product line. Before the Nokia 6110, onboard GPS was limited to the N95 and E90, although selected handsets can also make use of this feature by buying an additional Bluetooth wireless module.

'Our strategy is to ensure world-class maps and location-based applications are accessible to consumers by integrating the applications into our devices,' said Chris Carr, general manager of Nokia Singapore.

This article first appeared in BT on June 11, 2007