HMD Global, the manufacturer of Nokia-branded mobile devices, has announced a collaboration with toy company Mattel to introduce the HMD Barbie Phone, a compact pink flip phone designed with a nostalgic flair.

Retailing at £99 ($131.24), the phone will be available starting Wednesday. It enables users to make calls and send text messages, but does not support social media applications.

The Barbie-themed keypad features hidden designs of palm trees, hearts, and flamingos that illuminate in the dark, according to the company.


This launch aligns with the 65th anniversary of the Barbie doll and follows the remarkable success of last year's "Barbie" film, which starred Margot Robbie and earned $1.4 billion worldwide.

Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, remarked, "While many may find it appealing as a novelty item, the reality is that most people rely heavily on their smartphones, making it challenging to go without them for more than a day."

CCS Insight projects that HMD could sell over 400,000 Barbie phones in the UK, where they will be available through Vodafone and Argos.

HMD, a Finnish company supported by Alphabet's Google and Qualcomm, has previously released various feature phones, including modern versions of iconic Nokia models like the 3210 and 3310.