Nokia today launched three new handsets designed to bring Internet services to emerging markets. Included in the offering is the Nokia 2730 classic, priced at EUR80, which the world’s largest handset vendor claims is its “most affordable 3G phone.” It is expected to start shipping in the third quarter of 2009. The Nokia 2720 fold, is a fold-phone boasting email and Internet connectivity, and will be offered with Nokia Life Tools in select markets. The 2720 is expected to begin shipping in the third quarter for an estimated retail price of EUR55 before subsidies and taxes. Meanwhile, Nokia’s 7020 is marketed as “a fashionable fold phone that uses light, colour and metal finishes to convey personal style.” Incorporating a 2 megapixel camera, the device will ship in the fourth-quarter this year for an estimated retail price of EUR90 before subsidies and taxes.

Nokia’s announcement today is its latest effort to ramp up its emerging markets strategy. In November the company unveiled two emerging market services – Ovi Mail and Nokia Life Tools – that are supported by the three new handsets. Ovi Mail provides the ability to create an email account without the need to use a personal computer, whilst Nokia Life Tools is aimed at providing agriculture information and education services for rural and small town communities in emerging markets. Nokia claims to have carried out research declaring that nearly half of emerging market customers would rather connect to the Internet using a mobile phone than a PC.