A new software update for the Nokia N97 is now available delivering new user interface enhancements as well as new functionality to the handset. Some of the new features found in the version 2.0 update include:

• “Flip scrolling” added to the entire user interface – making scrolling in all views very smooth
• Shortcuts to personalized homescreen
• Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3D maps
• Nokia e-mail (Nokia Messaging)
• Ovi Contacts
• Ovi Store

The standard version of the Nokia N97 software update 2.0 is available now through the PC on the Nokia Software Update website at http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate.

In addition to the software update, Nokia announces the new N97 mini handset is now available in stores. The N97 mini features stainless steel cues, a tilting 3.2 inch touch-screen display, a QWERTY keyboard and fully customizable homescreen. The mini comes with the same software as the N97 and will be available for an estimated price of EUR 450. Pictures of the N97 mini are above and below.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia N97 software update, Nokia N97 mini

With the holiday season fast approaching, T-Mobile has decided to announce their upcoming holiday lineup of 3G-enabled mobile phones – including several Android powered headsets from the likes of HTC, Samsung, and Motorola. The new upcoming phones are as follows:

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Fender Limited Edition:

The myTouch 3G Fender Limited Edition is the latest Android powered handset to come from T-Mobile’s myTouch family. Slated to come out later this year and designed for music lovers out there, the 3G Fender features a guitar-inspired wood-grain finish, integration of Google web services, a 3.5mm headset jack, a pre-installed 16GB microSD card, and exclusive pre-loaded audio/video clips from iconic musicians out there.  No word on pricing as of yet.

Samsung Behold II:

The Samsung Behold II is the first Android-powered handset from Samsung and T-Mobile and features a 3.2 inch AMOLED touch-screen display, Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, and support for T-Mobile’s 3G network. The handset comes with Samsung’s exclusive cube menu user interface with easy access to features such as photos, music, videos, the web, Amazon MP3, and YouTube services. Other specs include built-in Google mobile services. Wi-Fi support, support for email and corporate email with Exchange ActiveSync, IM support, text/picture/video messaging, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, five shooting modes and video capabilities, visual voicemail, a built-in MP3 player, up to 16GB of external memory, assisted GPS, and Bluetooth 2.1. Expect the Behold II later this year.

Motorola CLIQ with MOTOBLUR:

Yes – T-Mobile’s got another first for this holiday season and it’s the MOTOROLA CLIQ. The CLIQ is Motorola’s first Android-powered handset and features Motorola’s MOTOBLUR solution which manages and integrates communications – from work email to social networking activity – all to the CLIQ’s home screen. You’ll get synchronized updates from source such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Gmail, and personal/work email. Other features include a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 3.1 inch HVGA full touch-screen display, and two color options- winter white, and titanium. Pre-sales for the CLIQ will begin on October 19th with nationwide sales to begin on November 2nd. The CLIQ will be available for $199 along with a new two-year agreement.

T-Mobile Tap:

The T-Mobile Tap is a stylish, attractive, and affordable touch-screen phone featuring support for T-Mobile 3G network, T-Mobile web2go web browsing, a 2 megapixel camera with video capture and playback, a built-in music player, GPS for location-based services powered by TeleNav, stereo Bluetooth support, and support for personal e-mail, SMS, MMS, and IM. Due out later this year, the Tap will be available in two colors – berry and midnight blue.

Nokia 3711:

Finally, the Nokia 3711 is a flip-phone with a unique hidden-until-lit external display. Features include support for T-Mobile’s 3G network, T-Mobile’s web2go web browser, built-in GPS for use with Nokia Maps, a 2 megapixel camera with video capture, stereo Bluetooth, Series 40 OS, and support for IM and email. The phone will be available in the coming weeks in a sable finish color. No word on pricing for either the Nokia 3711 or the T-Mobile Tap.

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, T-Mobile myTouch 3G Fender Limited Edition, Samsung Behold II, T-Mobile Tap, Nokia 3711, Motorola CLIQ

Yes, as if we didn’t need more netbook vendors out there, Nokia has decided to enter the space with the announcement of their Booklet 3G netbook. Powered by Microsoft Windows, the Booklet 3G specializes in offering 3G connectivity with its embedded HSPA chipset. Other features include:

• Intel Atom Z530 processor
• Aluminum body
• Weight of 1.25 kg
• Measures a bit more than 2 cm thin
• 3G/HSPA connectivity
• Wi-Fi networking
• Microsoft Windows
• Nokia Ovi services integration
• HDMI port for HD video output
• Front-facing webcam
• Built-in Bluetooth
• SD card reader
• 10 inch glass HD ready display
• Built-in A-GPS

Additional information (including pricing and availability) about the Nokia Booklet 3G will be made available at Nokia World on Sept. 2nd.

[Check it out via NetbookTech]

Technorati Tags: Nokia, Nokia Booklet 3G, Nokia Netbook

Long time rivals, Microsoft and Nokia, have announced a new alliance today whereby Microsoft will bring its suite of business software and services to the Nokia platform. The alliance is initially aimed at Research In Motion and its BlackBerry product line but you can be sure that the two companies are also intensely focused on Google and the Android platform.

In addition, Microsoft is breaking away from its typical software strategy where everything revolves around the Windows platform. The Microsoft Office division is now free to step away from Windows and leverage other platforms to grow its business model. This makes a great deal of sense considering the changing software landscape where more and more users are trusting software as a service (SaaS) models in the cloud.

So what are the details of this new relationship between the two companies? According to the Microsoft press release, the two companies “will begin collaborating immediately on the design, development and marketing of productivity solutions for the mobile professional, bringing Microsoft Office Mobile and Microsoft business communications, collaboration and device management software to Nokia’s Symbian devices.”

And when can we expect new software? Starting next year, Nokia will ship Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile on its smartphones followed by other Office applications and services. Software and services expected include:

• Ability to view, edit, create, and share Office documents with mobile-optimized versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote
• Enterprise IM and presence optimized with Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile
• Mobile access to intranet and extranet portals built on Microsoft SharePoint server
• Enterprise device management with Microsoft System Center

The initial focus will be business users with the initial target device being the Nokia E-Series of smartphones.

[Check it out]

[Check out the press release]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Nokia

AT&T and Nokia announces the upcoming availability of the Nokia Surge – a smartphone designed especially for all you social-networking minded individuals out there.

With features such as a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and the Symbian S60 OS, the Surge allows you to stay connected with your family and friends whether it’s through the use of IM, text, email, multimedia messaging, AT&T Video Share, or updating and reading content from social networking websites.

Specs and features include:

• 2.0 megapixel camera
• Web browser with Adobe Flash support
• JuiceCaster application
• Support for AT&T Navigator, AT&T Mobile Music, and AT&T Video Share

What makes the Surge particularly interesting is the claim that the Surge was designed in the U.S. – a Nokia phone designed in the U.S. specifically for the U.S. audience. Not bad.

The Nokia Surge will be available through select AT&T retail locations and online for a price of $79.99 along with a new two year agreement and a mail-in rebate (Pay $129.99 and send in a $50 dollar AT&T Promotion Card). The company expects the Nokia Surge to be available starting on July 19th.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: AT&T, Nokia, Nokia Surge

Finally, Nokia introduced yesterday their latest smartphone handset – the Nokia E72. The E72 builds upon the success of the E71 by including desktop-like email experiences, a new optical navigation key, a 5 megapixel camera, and a standard 3.5 mm audio jack.

The full features and specs to the E72 include the following:

• 2.36 inch 320 x 240 resolution TFT active matrix display with support for up to 16.7 million colors
• 5 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and LED flash
• Numeric keypad, QWERTY keyboard
• One-touch keys for Home, Calendar, Contacts, or Email
• Volume and mute keys
• Nokia Messaging allows for easy set-up of IM accounts direct from the homescreen with support for Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, and Ovi
• Support for email, Mail for Exchange, and IBM Lotus Notes
• A-GPS
• Compass
• Integrated maps
• Active noise cancellation
• Bluetooth 2.0
• microSD card slot
• Talk time – GSM 12 hours 30 min, WCDMA 5 hours 54 min, and VoIP 13 hours 42 min
• Quad-band GSM/EGSM 850/900/1800/1900
• GPRS class A, multislot class 32, maximum speed 107/64.2 kbps (DL/UL)
• EGSM class A, multislot class 32, maximum speed 128/384 kbps (DL/UL)
• WCDMA 850/1900/2100, WCDMA 900/1900/2100
• HSDPA maximum speed: 10.2 Mbps
• HSUPA maximum speed: 2 Mbps
• Built-in music and media player
• FM radio
• Voice command support
• New version of Quickoffice which comes with Microsoft Office 2007 support
• 802.11 b/g support
• Hands-free speakerphone
• Measures 114 x 59.5 x 10.1 mm and weighs 128 grams

Colors available for the E72 include Zodium black, Metal grey, and Topaz brown. The Nokia E72 will begin shipping in the third quarter of this year for a price of EUR 350.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia E72

Nokia extends their XpressMusic product line with the introduction of the 5530 XpressMusic – a touch-enabled handset specializing in media, entertainment, and social networking features.

On the music front, the 5530 XpressMusic enables roughly 27 hours of playback time (now that’s a lot!), excellent audio quality, and support for purchasing and downloading music from the Nokia Music Store. It also comes with a 4GB memory card which you can use to store media on.

On the social media front, the 5530 XpressMusic has a new scrolling contacts bar known as the “people carousel” which displays thumbnails of up to 20 contacts and provides easy access to them and their communication history including emails, phone calls, photos, and other social media updates.

There’s also a pop-up Media Bar which allows easy access to music, photos, videos, Internet, and online sharing applications.

Specs to the 5530 XpressMusic include:

• Full touch interface
• 2.9 inch 640 x 360 resolution display with support for up to 16.7 million colors
• Touch-screen with pen or finger input
• Power, volume, camera keys
• Keylock switch
• Dedicated touch keys for send, end, and home
• Voice commands
• 3.5 mm stereo headphone plug
• microSD card slot
• 70MB internal memory
• Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
• CSD
• HSCSD
• GPRS / EDGE class B, Multi Slot Class 32 (5 Rx +3Tx, Max Su7m 6), maximum speed 177/296 kbps (UL/DL)
• WLAN; IEEE 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth 2.0
• SMS, MMS, AMS, Email, Web Browser
• 3.2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, LED flash, and autofocus lens
• Video recording
• Nokia Music Player supporting mp3, SpMidi, AAC AAC+, eAAC+, WMA. MTP
• Stereo FM radio
• 3D surround sound stereo speakers
• Measures 104 x 49 x 13 mm and weighs 107 grams

The 5530 XpressMusic is available in black with red accents, white with blue accents, white with yellow accents, black with grey accents, and white with pink accents.

The 5530 XpressMusic will be available in the third quarter of this year for an estimated price of EUR 199.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

Here is Nokia’s latest clamshell handset – the 3710 fold. Featuring an artistic pattern on the cover and a familiar easy-to-use user interface, the 3710 fold has the following specs:

• Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
• WCDMA 850/1900/2100 or WCDMA 900/1700 2100/1700
• 2.2 inch 320 x 240 resolution display with support for up to 16.7 million colors
• 1.36 inch 160 x 128 resolution secondary black/white display
• 3.2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom and LED flash
• Video recording
• Built-in music player with support for MP3 music files, Midi, AAC, AAC+, enhanced AAC+, WMA
• Stereo FM radio
• Voice dialing and recording
• microSD card slot
• Intuitive simple menus
• New Photo Gallery helps keeps photos organized, create slideshows, create photo albums, or attach photos to contacts etc
• Internal GPS
• 4 hour talk time with GSM and 3 hour talk time with WCDMA
• SMS, MMS, Audio messaging, IM with presence, email, web browsing
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Measures 89 x 47 x 15.2 mm and weighs 94 grams

The Nokia 3710 fold will be coming out in the fourth quarter of this year for a price of EUR 140.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia 3710 fold

Fans of Nokia’s Internet Tablet devices will be interested in this piece of news. A source has revealed to the folks at MobileCrunch details to Nokia’s upcoming Internet Tablet device – tentatively known internally under multiple names including the N900, “Rover”, and “Maemo Flagship”. Here’s the gist of the rumored specs to the next model:

• 3.5 inch 800 x 480 resolution touch-screen display
• Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• OMAP 3430 500/600MHz processor
• GSM Quad-Band 850, 900, 1800, 1900. WCDMA 900, 1700/2100, 2100
• 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss camera with dual-LED flash, autofocus, and sliding cover
• 256MB physical RAM 768 MB virtual memory
• Wi-Fi and HSPA connectivity
• 32GB internal storage
• measures 59.7 x 111 x 18.2 mm and weighs 180 grams

Yes – unlike previous Nokia Internet Tablet incarnations, it appears this one is more akin to an advanced smartphone.

So when can we expect this rumored device? Assuming this info is all true – T-Mobile International is expected to get a hold of the unit in July with T-Mobile USA getting it in the August/Sept timeframe. Folks in the Middle East, Asia, SE Asia will also get in July with Europeans getting it in October.

Certainly sounds exciting! Make sure to read MobileCrunch for even more information on the tablet.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia Internet Tablet N900 Rumors, T-Mobile

Nokia announced yesterday three new mobile handsets designed to deliver the Internet to emerging markets. The new handsets are the Nokia 2730 classic, the 2720 fold, and the 7020. Each phone is Internet-ready and will work with “emerging market services such as Nokia Life Tools and Ovi Mail”. Here are the basics to each of the three new phones.

Nokia 2730 classic:

• Priced at EUR 80
• Nokia’s most affordable 3G phone
• Full web browser
• 2.0 inch display with 320 x 240 resolution display with support for 262K colors
• Numeric keypad
• Available in black or dark magenta
• microSD memory card slot
• 30MB internal memory
• Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
• WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Built-in hands-free speakerphone
• Support for email attachments
• 2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom
• Video recording
• Music player with support for AMR, AMR-WB, MIDI, MXMF, MP3, AAC, MP4/M4A/3GP/3GA(AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, AMR-WB), X-Tone, WAV(PCM, a-law, mu-law, ADPCM), WMA(WMA9, WMA10)
• Voice recorder
• Measures 109.6 x 46.9 x 14.4 mm
• Weighs 87.7 grams
• Expected in Q3 of 2009

Nokia 2720 fold:

• Compact fold phone
• Mirror-effect design
• Easy access to email, calendar, Internet, and file sharing apps
• Measures 93 x 46 x 17.85 mm
• Weighs 90.3 grams
• 1.8 inch display with 128 x 160 resolution and support for up to 65K colors
• 1.36 inch secondary display with 128 x 160 resolution
• Numeric keypad
• Available in black and deep red
• 2.5 mm audio connector
• 32MB internal dynamic memory
• EGSM 900/1800 & GSM 850/1900 with EDGE support
• Bluetooth 2.0
• 1.3 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom
• Video recorder
• Music player
• FM radio with RDS support
• Expected in Q3 of 2009
• Estimated price of EUR 55

Nokia 7020:

• Stardust effect when you get a call or message
• Tap twice to have the cover light up
• Measures 91.2 x 46.7 x 17.3 mm
• Weighs 86.2 grams
• 2.2 inch display with 320 x 240 resolution and support for 262K colors
• 1.36 inch secondary display with 160 x 128 resolution
• Built-in acclerometer
• Available in graphite and hot pink
• microUSB connector
• microSD memory card slot
• Up to 45MB internal user memory
• Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900, EGSM 900
• Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR
• 2 megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom
• Video recorder
• Built-in music player with support for .amr, .mid, .mp3, .mp4, .m4a, .aac, .wma
• FM radio with RDS support
• Expected in Q4 of 2009
• Estimated price of EUR 90

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia 2730 classic, Nokia 2720 fold, Nokia 7020