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FCC approves 3G version of Nokia N95

A faster version of Nokia's high-end smart phone is set for a U.S. debut after receiving FCC approval.

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
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Tom Krazit

The fellas at the freakin' FCC have given their blessing to Nokia's latest product, a 3G version of the N95 slider phone.

A faster version of Nokia's N95 phone is set to make its U.S. debut. Federal Communications Commission

Before any wireless device can be sold in the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission has to test it to make sure its emissions won't cause brain damage or summon aliens from another planet. One nice side effect of that (other than the lack of brain damage) is that the FCC publishes the results of those tests on its Web site before the device is formally released, complete with photos and a user manual.

Wirelessinfo.com (via Engadget) has a report up on the new N95. The proposed 3G N95 will run on HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) networks currently being rolled out by AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S., but it only supports the 850MHz and 1900MHz bands used by AT&T; T-Mobile's HSDPA network will use the 1700MHz band. It will use all four GSM bands for both U.S. and international networks.

Other than that, the new version appears to be the same N95 that is already available here for EDGE networks. It's got pretty much everything: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and slider controls for a numeric keypad and multimedia controls, but you'll pay between $599 and $699 for an unlocked EDGE version. No word yet on when the 3G model might become available.