Nokia has strengthened its portfolio of CDMA devices in China by launching three new devices for the country’s CDMA-based operator, China Telecom. The Nokia 1506 is expected to become available in China at the end of 2009, while the Nokia 6316s and the Nokia 3806 are expected to become available during the first quarter of 2010. “Nokia is boosting its leadership in the CDMA market by updating an already strong line-up with products that appeal to a wide range of customer needs,” said David Tang, VP of Nokia China. The most advanced handset is the Nokia 6316s (pictured), which includes web browsing, music, imaging and GPS. The device comes with a range of features in support of China Telecom’s services and preloaded applications such as QQ, Email, web browser, as well as try-and-buy applications, mobile navigation and mobile stock. At the other end of the scale is the Nokia 1506, which Nokia described as its most affordable CDMA device to date.

The launch of the new CDMA phones is the latest attempt by Nokia – the world’s largest handset vendor – to boost its standing in China, the world’s largest mobile market. Its strategy in China has seen it launch devices on multiple technology standards to meet operator needs. Last month, the vendor unveiled its first phone based on TD-SCDMA, China’s domestic 3G standard, at an event in Beijing. The device – the Nokia 6788 – is specifically designed for China Mobile’s TD-SCDMA network and will ship with a range of integrated China Mobile applications.