Nokia has finally revealed what it is calling its ‘flagship mobile computer’ the N97, and is the first handset in the Australian market to come shipped with its Apple App rival the Ovi Store.
“The convergence of the internet, mobility and context-awareness is changing the way people communicate, share, search and consumer information,” said Emile Baak, Nokia Australia’s managing director.
“The Nokia N97 delivers on our promise to create a highly personalised internet experience similar to what you would expect from a PC, but with the benefits of mobility and immediacy.”
The N97 and the Ovi Store combination seems to be in direct response to the latest Apple iPhone 3G S launch which has generated a lot of buzz in media circles of late.
But even though it may be competing directly with the new iPhone, it is quite different in terms of design.
The N97 features a tilting 3.5 inch touch display and QWERTY keyboard, a five megapixel camera with integrated Carl Zeiss optics, and 32GB built-in storage.
Coming already built into this handset is its new online app store, the Ovi Store which was launched back in May and has achieved great success so far.
According to Baak, the Ovi Store reached 131 countries within the first 24 hours and users from over 170 countries now have an active account. Baak also emphasised the consistent growth it has demonstrated.
“Ovi Store is a constantly evolving service for consumers and we believe that providing engaging and locally relevant content is extremely important to its success,” he said.
The Nokia N97 will be released in mid July and is available through Optus, Vodafone and selected retailers for a RRP of $1,129.