Business | Technology
Nokia unveils touch-screen based smartphone
Finnish company playing catch-up with its rivals such as Apple, T-Mobile and Research in Motion.
- Financial Times
- Published: 23:46 December 5, 2008
New York: Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone maker, has finally responded to the threat posed by touch-screen based smartphones such as Apple's iPhone with a model of its own. But it could be a case of too little too late.
The N97 handset was unveiled in Barcelona Thursday although it will not be available for purchase in Europe until the first half of next year, with a US launch coming later.
Catch-up
Nokia is in some senses playing catch-up with its rivals, such as Apple, T-Mobile with its G1, and Research in Motion's BlackBerry.
The iPhone, for example, will have been available for almost two years by the time the N97 is finally launched.
Also, some analysts noted that many of its features are already available on existing smartphones, such as the G1, which is powered by Google's Android open source operating system.
The N97 is a sleek touch-screen based device that also features a full slide-out "qwerty" mini-keyboard and comes with full GPS navigation and mapping options.
It has a five megapixel camera capable of taking both still images and film clips and extensive multimedia capabilities, including the ability to play Flash-based internet video and access Nokia's Ovi multimedia services.
The N97 also combines its GPS technology with a digital compass, meaning the handset can tailor online content depending on its location.
'Widgets'
It features a personalised home screen populated with software "widgets" that pull together information such as meeting reminders, the online status of friends and family and local weather conditions.
Nokia plans to launch the phone with a handful of "home-grown" widgets but is also encouraging third-party developers to build their own.
The N97's 3.5-inch touch-screen display is clear and bright and the handset is slightly thicker than the iPhone, which lacks a physical keyboard.
Nokia executives said they believed the slide-out keyboard was an essential feature for a handset designed for serious messaging.
Overall, the N97 is a beautifully designed device, which, in spite of being a late entrant, is almost guaranteed to be a success due to Nokia's marketing muscle.
It also provides a solid hardware platform for Nokia to demonstrate the range and sophistication of its Ovi services.
Downturn: Mobile phone sales to fall more than expected
Mobile phone industry sales volume will fall more than expected as consumers cut spending, the world's top cellphone maker Nokia said on Thursday in its second warning in three weeks.
"The most recent incremental impact in the emerging markets has been more pronounced than in other markets," Nokia said.
Nokia said handset market volumes would fall by at least five per cent next year, something many analysts were already expecting, but saw its market share rising, helping to lift its shares 2.5 per cent to 10.86 euros by 1214 GMT.
"2009 will be challenging for our industry, however we have a strong, enviable base to build on and I believe we will continue to strengthen our position on many fronts," Nokia Chief Executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said in a statement.
"Building on our operational flexibility, Nokia is acting to reduce costs appropriately in the current slowing environment," he said.
Nokia said it aimed to increase its market share in cellphones in 2009, something analysts said was likely as its smaller rivals would suffer more from the downturn.
- Reuters
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