Nokia enlists One Direction to launch phones

FINNISH PHONE MAKER Nokia has recruited X Factor boy band One Direction to help it launch its C3 and C2-02 phones next month.

Instead of giving us the quite exciting N9 handset, we're going to get boy band branded phones in the UK. The phone will be available next month and will apparently get you "closer to the boys".

Nokia said, "Lovely Lads One Direction have teamed up with Nokia and The Carphone Warehouse to bring you 2 exclusive 'every fans phones': the Nokia C3 and C202!"

The pair of phones will come with exclusive One Direction content such as wallpapers, ringtones and behind the scenes videos. Fans can also win one of five pairs of VIP tickets to see and meet the band.

To promote the launch Nokia has made a series of photos of the band members using the phones to take photos of themselves, for example. Additionally there are shots of them covered in blue paint that don't even feature the handsets, we guess because the Nokia logo is blue.

The C2-02 will come with a 2.6in touchscreen and a slide out keypad. The C3 will have a 2.4in screen but adds a physical Qwerty keyboard. Both will come running Nokia's Series 40 software. µ