Products

• Technology news: Nokia releases its answer to Apple’s iPhone

  
  04 December 2008
  

  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 on Monday although it will not be available for purchase in Europe until the first half of next year, with a US launch coming later.

  While the N97 – the first N-series smartphone with a touch display – was generally well received, 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.

  Indeed, 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 and the recently launched Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, based on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6 operating system. In contrast, the N97 is powered by Symbian.

  Like the G1 and Xperia X1, the N97 is a sleek touch-screen based device that also features full slide-out “qwerty” mini-keyboard and comes with full GPS navigation and mapping options.

  It has a 5 megapixel camera capable of taking 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. It also combines GPS technology with a digital compass, enabling the handset to tailor online content depending on its location. It will come with 32Gb of expandable on-board memory.

  Among its most significant innovations, 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.

  While the widget concept is a familiar one to PC users, the N97 will be one of the first smartphones to incorporate the technology although Sony Ericsson’s Xperia handset features a similar system called ‘panels.’ Nokia plans to launch the phone with a handful of “home-grown” widgets but is also encouraging third-party developers to build their own.

  In terms of design, the N97 looks quite like the T-Mobile G1 which was launched early last month and is built by Taiwan’s HTC. It is also very similar to the Xperia. While the N97’s 3.5in touch-screen display is clear and bright, the handset is somewhat 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 although the added weight and bulk may deter some consumers. “Much grumbling is already emerging about the size of the N97, the 150gm weight and the 18mm thickness in particular,” noted analysts at Global Crown Capital Equity Research.

  Nevertheless, 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.

   

  (ft.com)