Nokia's N97 launches with Bells and Whistles

Text and Photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Nokia launched its N97 all-in-one smartphone device today which is exclusive to Bell Canada. Bell, who just a day before launched its first Android OS smartphone,  seems to be launching HSPA handsets as fast as it can in time for the holiday buying season.

Nokia's N97 is the flagship model integrating a touchscreen with a unique slide-and tilt QWERTY keyboard. Running on the venerable but ageing Symbian Series 60 OS- the N97 is the device that aims to be all things to all people. There are widget applications that connect to a variety of services from news, sports scores, online video and a variety of social networking services. With 32GB of onboard memory plus the capability of expansion via MicroSD cards, the N97 can carry  and manage a lot of multimedia.

As a messaging phone, the N97 has one of the best keyboards in the market today and makes sending text messages, emails and Twitter updates much easier.  Nokia has also packed in the multimedia goodies, aside from stereo bluetooth, the N97 packs a 5-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics and a flash. The software keyboard, which enables users to type or thumb directly on the screen, isn't as responsive as competing smartphones. As for the operating system itself, its Symbian Series 60 for now without any indication if the device will be upgradeable to the Linux-flavoured Maemo OS.

The N97 offers Bell's Video Calling service which uses the speed of the HSPA network  to send and receive video calls with other Bell users, provided their handsets support the service.

“The Nokia N97 is designed to fit the way people live, how they connect to the Internet and to each other,” said Richard White, General Manager, Nokia Canada. “The Nokia N97 introduces leading technology for people to create a personal Internet experience and it’s helping to transform the Internet into your Internet.”

The Opera Mobile browser on the N97 worked quickly and accurately and rendered websites quite well on the tiny screen. There is no toggle or scroller function so the only means of navigating down pages is by making scrolling motions on the screen itself.

Additional features on the Nokia N97 include:

•    Personalized homescreens – the widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently
updated widgets of favourite web services

•    Access to Ovi Store, to personalize your phone with cool apps, download games, ringtones,
themes and more content

•    Access to Ovi Share, to upload photos and videos online, and to Ovi Files, allowing clients to
remotely view, download and send the music, photos and files on their computer

•    Built-in FM radio transmitter and stereo FM radio

Nokia's Ovi applications store intiative currently offers only free applications but that will change soon and payment and billing will be managed via the carrier.

The Nokia N97 smartphone is available from Bell for $199.95 on a three year contract with a minimum $50 voice and data plan, or $599.95 without a contract .