The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) just approved Nokia's first touch screen smartphone, the 5800 Xpress Music, and a member of its NSeries family of handsets, the N79, for possible release in this country. All devices that use U.S. airwaves must receive a thumbs up from the FCC before shipping here.

FCC docs reveal the 5800 Xpress Music in question at the FCC is not the version that'll support the magic of U.S.-style 3G cellular-wireless data networking. As for the N79, which the FCC docs refer to as the Nokia RM-350, it appears this is the edition with support for U.S. 3G.


5800 Xpress Music @ FCC

Keep in mind, FCC approval doesn't guarantee a smartphone will ship here soon or, in some cases, ever. While these particular devices should, almost certainly, make it to the U.S., we still have no idea when that will happen.

Nokia plans to sell the Xpress Music in the UK for around 279 euros, about $395, with no carrier subsidy. It is not known how much it'll go for in the U.S. or whether Nokia will find an operator-partner in this country to help reduce the cost


Nokia N79 @ FCC

The candy-bar compact N79 is due to ship this month, going on sale for EUR 350 (about $512) before taxes and subsidies. No word on when or if it's been scheduled for a U.S. launch, however.

In related news, Sony Ericsson's 8 megapixel C905 just made an appearance at the FCC as well.

Sony Ericsson C905 @ FCC

[via engadget]