Nokia, Apple iPhone to lock horns at last on Thursday
After remaining near-silent as iPhone and other touchscreen cellphones took control of the high-end media phone business, Nokia on Thursday will try and reclaim what was once its own with its first touchscreen cellphone.
Given its first real preview in a Czech leak last week, Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic is believed by multiple sources to be scheduled for an October 2nd launch at a special Nokia press event that should also play host to fuller details of the cellphone maker's Comes With Music unlimited mobile music strategy.
The handset at first blush is cosmetically similar to iPhone but, in theory, should outclass the Apple-made communicator in several key respects: a 640x360 screen, a 3.2-megapixel camera and video capture on the 5800 will all outperform its rival while 3G, GPS and Wi-Fi put it on an equal footing in other areas. Apple's device is limited to a 480x320 display and a two-megapixel camera so far capable only of taking still photos.
And while the Nokia hardware will allegedly lack any significant built-in storage of its own -- instead opting for the usual microSD card slot of most phones -- the 5800 will be one of Nokia's few four-digit phones to sport a full smartphone platform. Where the company's other XpressMusic devices use the feature-limited Symbian Series 40, the new model is said to carry Series 60 and so would support the same class of third-party apps as those for the N95 and other Nokia challengers to iPhone, although many of these programs may need to be modified to support the touchscreen.
The Finland-based manufacturer is also counting on price as a selling point. In July, a company spokesperson insisted that the then-unnamed phone would be priced below its competitors, which in the iPhone's case would demand a sub-$200 price tag.
Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic. | Image credits: Mobil.cz.
A fall launch for the 5800 comes at a critical moment for Nokia, which has lately begun to feel the heat from iPhone 3G and other cellphones eating away at its core market. A statement released earlier in September by the cellular giant warned that it would bleed market share in the summer after "aggressive pricing" from competitors stole some of the company's thunder.
The company has declined to name those challengers but is generally thought to have pinned some of the blame on Apple, whose dramatic $200 price cut helped spur sales for customers that might have otherwise have bought one of Nokia's models.
At the time, the firm also mentioned delays in producing an important mid-range phone that some now believe is the 5800 XpressMusic.
Nokia has often positioned itself as aloof to Apple's presence in the cellphone industry, which so far doesn't include lower-cost devices and is outshadowed by Nokia's much wider lead of the total market. Even so, the company has been feeling pressure at the higher end of the phone spectrum, as Apple has already risen as high as third place among smartphone vendors after a year on store shelves.
Given its first real preview in a Czech leak last week, Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic is believed by multiple sources to be scheduled for an October 2nd launch at a special Nokia press event that should also play host to fuller details of the cellphone maker's Comes With Music unlimited mobile music strategy.
The handset at first blush is cosmetically similar to iPhone but, in theory, should outclass the Apple-made communicator in several key respects: a 640x360 screen, a 3.2-megapixel camera and video capture on the 5800 will all outperform its rival while 3G, GPS and Wi-Fi put it on an equal footing in other areas. Apple's device is limited to a 480x320 display and a two-megapixel camera so far capable only of taking still photos.
And while the Nokia hardware will allegedly lack any significant built-in storage of its own -- instead opting for the usual microSD card slot of most phones -- the 5800 will be one of Nokia's few four-digit phones to sport a full smartphone platform. Where the company's other XpressMusic devices use the feature-limited Symbian Series 40, the new model is said to carry Series 60 and so would support the same class of third-party apps as those for the N95 and other Nokia challengers to iPhone, although many of these programs may need to be modified to support the touchscreen.
The Finland-based manufacturer is also counting on price as a selling point. In July, a company spokesperson insisted that the then-unnamed phone would be priced below its competitors, which in the iPhone's case would demand a sub-$200 price tag.
Nokia's 5800 XpressMusic. | Image credits: Mobil.cz.
A fall launch for the 5800 comes at a critical moment for Nokia, which has lately begun to feel the heat from iPhone 3G and other cellphones eating away at its core market. A statement released earlier in September by the cellular giant warned that it would bleed market share in the summer after "aggressive pricing" from competitors stole some of the company's thunder.
The company has declined to name those challengers but is generally thought to have pinned some of the blame on Apple, whose dramatic $200 price cut helped spur sales for customers that might have otherwise have bought one of Nokia's models.
At the time, the firm also mentioned delays in producing an important mid-range phone that some now believe is the 5800 XpressMusic.
Nokia has often positioned itself as aloof to Apple's presence in the cellphone industry, which so far doesn't include lower-cost devices and is outshadowed by Nokia's much wider lead of the total market. Even so, the company has been feeling pressure at the higher end of the phone spectrum, as Apple has already risen as high as third place among smartphone vendors after a year on store shelves.
Comments
Consumers don't care about the actual screen resolution, as long as it looks good is all that matters (and the iphone looks fine). A higher megapixel camera on the iphone would be nice, but not a deal breaker. Video capture..ehh, again not necessary, but would be a welcome addition.
What these reviews fail to realize is that looks, functionality, and ease of use reign supreme over technical details like resolution. Just cause it looks good on paper doesn't mean it is better.
So any information on the software that will be on the computer, if any? Music store, videos? Battery life? Multitouch is what makes the iphone so great, just look at the google phone- although its browser is a step up from others, the navigation of a page is so clumsy, it's embarrassing compared to the iphone.
The reason it will be priced low is because it doesn't have any memory! You fail to really mention that at all as a key factor in purchasing...hmmm 16 GB of memory or a carry around a couple SD cards...
On a side note, I just got an iPhone a week ago and I'm honestly beating myself why on earth did I not buy one sooner
So how much does a 16GB microSD card cost?
16GB ones are US$75. They are only just starting to ship.
8GB ones are US$30. These are very widely available.
It looks thick!
So? Thin does not always mean better-
It has a 3.2 megapixel camera!
It can capture video!
Also how long will the battery last? Is it replaceable? Thinness is not always the thing.
So I have to buy the phone, and then go and buy an additional SD card, the phone should come with 8 or 16 gigs like another phone I know.
You mean the phone that can't capture quicktime video!
And removable memory is a plus- you can swap cards/save files, etc.
And removable memory is a plus- you can swap cards/save files, etc.
I've still don't see why that is a plus. Why not have a wireless file sharing feature like the iphone? (AirSharing).
I've still don't see why that is a plus. Why not have a wireless file sharing feature like the iphone? (AirSharing).
The same reason that people use more than one card for a digital camera- you can replace them whenever without needing your computer. Lfor example: if you take a long video and want to keep it but are low on space- you swap it with a new one, etc.
You mean the phone that can't capture quicktime video!
And removable memory is a plus- you can swap cards/save files, etc.
What are you on about, why do I have to spend money for something that should been included from the jump, I don't have any 8 or 16 gig cards lying around.
What are you on about, why do I have to spend money for something that should been included from the jump, I don't have any 8 or 16 gig cards lying around.
?? The same reason why you have to spend $80 if your battery dies and you can only get your manufacturer to fix it- what other phone has that pitfall? Replaceable cards are a plus- sure it would be great it it had large memory built it but it's not something to whine about because it doesn't.
So I have to buy the phone, and then go and buy an additional SD card, the phone should come with 8 or 16 gigs like another phone I know.
No, most carriers will bundle the cards with the phone. (INSIDE the same box)
Nokia does this for most carriers already for their S60 handsets.
What are you on about, why do I have to spend money for something that should been included from the jump, I don't have any 8 or 16 gig cards lying around.
You won't need to spend extra money unless you want more than 8 or 16GB space. The carriers will bundle memory cards, as they do already for this class of device.
What if I loose mine, am I supposed to keep on purchasing them over and over again ?
?? The same reason why you have to spend $80 if your battery dies and you can only get your manufacturer to fix it- what other phone has that pitfall? Replaceable cards are a plus- sure it would be great it it had large memory built it but it's not something to whine about because it doesn't.
xxxxx
People are quick to point out the shortfalls of the iphone but then praise the lack of memory built in as some sort of innovation because I can change cards, I mean that's supposed to be a good thing ?
What if I loose mine, am I supposed to keep on purchasing them over and over again ?
How do you loose it if it's in the phone? You don't need multiple cards- it's merely an option.
People are quick to point out the shortfalls of the iphone but then praise the lack of memory built in as some sort of innovation because I can change cards, I mean that's supposed to be a good thing ?
What if I loose mine, am I supposed to keep on purchasing them over and over again ?
The card goes inside the phone. If you lose your phone, you need to purchase another one. You can claim it on your phone or home contents insurance.
Losing any phone is no different...
How do you loose it if it's in the phone? You don't need multiple cards- it's merely an option.
This should be something that should be built in like in other phones, what if I take out the card and misplace it ? This is a step back, not a step forward.
The phone has no built-in memory, but instead has bundled 8 or 16GB cards (depending on carrier).