Nokia Announces Its 2009 Flagship Device, the N97

Today Nokia announced its flagship smartphone for 2009, the N97. The N97 has a large 3.5-inch screen (640 x 360 pixels, 16:9 wide-screen) for touch-based input, as well as a full physical QWERTY keyboard for messaging. The N97 is the first Nseries device to have a QWERTY keyboard, which slides and tilts when open. The N97 offers an extensive set of features, including S60 5th Edition, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, dual LED flash, Carl Zeiss optics and video capture at 30fps in the 16:9 format. It has 32GB of built-in storage (expandable to 48GB), as well as Wi-Fi, aGPS, FM radio, and FM transmitter. It carries quad-band GSM and HSDPA for 3G connectivity. It supports Flash Lite 3.0, as well as Flash Video in the Internet browser. It has Bluetooth 2.0+EDR with A2DP stereo, as well as a 3.5mm headset jack with TV out, and stereo speakers. The N97 was built for social networking, and has what Nokia calls "So-Lo" (social location) services. The N97 will be available in the first half of 2009 for approximately $695. A version with 3G for the US will be available shortly after the European version.

Nokia Introduces New Messaging Services

Today Nokia announced a revamped set of email and instant messaging services. The new services, tied to Nokia's Ovi platform, enable users to access most POP3/IMAP email from their S60 handsets, as well as many of the major instant messaging platforms, including Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Hotmail, Gmail and Google Talk, and AOL Mail. Nokia is also rolling out Web-based access to Mail on Ovi, which offers users spam filters and 1GB of storage for email. Users will be able to set up and access Ovi email accounts from their PCs. The beta version of Mail on Ovi will roll out globally in December 2008. Nokia Messaging will roll out to select markets in the first quarter of 2009, with other markets following later in the year. Nokia will add support for Series 40 devices over time.

Nokia Refurbs Maps Product

Nokia announced a next-generation version of its Mobile Maps product today. This combination of Nokia Maps plus Ovi allows people to pre-plan their journey at home on their PC and synchronize with their phone, giving access to pre-planned routes and destinations. Nokia Maps will also include a number of new features such as aerial images, 3D landmarks for 216 cities and terrain maps, as well as a new route overview during routing and during Drive, the purchasable turn-by-turn car navigation guidance. Other new options for Nokia Maps include access to real-time information such as camera alerts, safety spots and traffic information for selected countries, as well as Wcities event guides that give real-time information for events and movies. This new version of Nokia Maps is available as a beta from the Nokia Labs site.

Clearwire to Ditch 'Xohm' Branding

Clearwire announced that it will forgo using the Xohm branding created by Sprint for its WiMax network. Instead, the WiMax network will be referred to as the 'Clear' network. Sprint and Clearwire made the official announcement about their completed merger this morning.

Sprint and Clearwire Finalize Merger

Today Sprint announced that it has completed the merger of its Xohm Wimax unit with Clearwire Corporation. Sprint contributed all of its 2.5 GHz spectrum and its WiMAX-related assets. Comcast, Intel, Time Warner Cable, Google and Bright House Networks all combined to contribute $3.2 billion in cash to help the company get started. Clearwire plans to provide Wimax-based high-speed wireless Internet services.

Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic Goes On Sale

Nokia has made its touch-screen 5800 XpressMusic phone available in several markets, including: Russia, Spain, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Finland, and others. Nokia didn't mention when it will become available in other markets. Nokia also announced that it will cease selling handsets in Japan. It will keep its luxury Vertu brand, but Nokia will no longer develop phones for the Japanese market. Nokia didn't explain how this will affect its plans to launch a premium MVNO service in Japan in 2009.