The workhorse Nokia N82 mobile phone has been generating a lot of buzz on the Web, especially now that it's available in a steely black, but US consumers are still wondering when the phone will be available here through carriers.

US consumers will only be able to purchase an unlocked black N82 direct from Nokia for $629, but for now, the phone will only work on T-Mobile's and AT&T's EDGE networks. The black edition of the N82 will be released on Tuesday, February 12.

The N82 integrates GPS, video, Wi-Fi and 5 megapixel camera in one Symbian-based device, making it the ideal device for users who want a wide variety of options when money isn't an issue.

Initially panned as merely an N95 phone in a smaller, more fragile casing, reviewers have since had both good and bad things to say about the N82. Recently, they have not been pleased with its functionality, such as the placement and usage of its buttons, but many users may not notice these minor inconveniences. Others say its messaging service isn't quite up to par with BlackBerry or Microsoft Windows Mobile.