Finally had the chance to try out a prototype Nokia 5800, which when released will be the first Nokia touch screen phone since Apple launched its iPhone. Its got a smaller screen than the iPhone and is a bit chunkier in feel but it also has a Carl Zeiss Lens 3.2 mega pixel camera and Bluetooth and Nokia’s satellite navigation system, amongst a plethora of other features.
The phone will also feature Flash Lite and Java, which are both currently missing from Apple’s offerings. Like the Google Phone from TMobile there is also haptic feedback when ‘pressing’ a button. The feedback is vibration but unlike the Google Phone it is not directly under the finger and does actually feel a little weird. However its a useful feature which should aid usability.
Nokia may not invite comparison with the iPhone but it will be inevitable. However I feel it is more of a direct rival to the Google Phone. Price should be comparable too. Also, Nokia already have plans for a touch screen N-series phone, which will probably be more of a direct rival to the iPhone in terms of price as well as market positioning.
The device looks powerful and as it was a prototype that I tried out there were clearly a few quirks left (response is a little sluggish for example) but it looks like it should be feature laidened with Nokia’s experience behind it it should deliver. If it is pitched at the mass consumer market then for some at a cheaper price with similar (and more) features to the iPhone it might prove the more attractive choice. The phone will be part of the Nokia Express Music range and should feature access to the Nokia Music store and its new unlimited download feature
The only trouble is it isn’t going to be available until February 2009 in the UK, which means a few disappointed Christmas stockings!
There are an increasing number of touch screen phones available now, with all major manufactures already offering or about to offer something. The huge advantage of the touch screens is the larger amount of screen real estate that can be made available. This means that the devices multimedia and gaming capacities are greatly enhanced, without necessarily creating bigger actual devices. The are great examples of technology convergence, since for users they can be movie screens, social networks, phones, cameras etc..
They also offer new opportunites for companies wishing to make the most of the mobile web and improve their returns on investment for the existing web infrastructure. The mobile web is at the heart of these new devices and offer new opportunities for customers and clients to interact on the go.
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- November 22nd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
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