The time has come and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) announced that their highly anticipated N97 smartphone (they call it “mobile computer”) will begin selling this month in more than 75 countries.

We’ve already talked about the N97 for quite a few times. Let me recap quickly – this baby has everything you could ever need including HSPA, WiFi, 3.5-inch nHD touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, GPS, 5 megapixel camera with integrated Carl Zeiss optics, 32GB of built-in storage memory, microSD slot… you name it. Moreover, the device is tightly integrated with an array of Ovi services, and also comes pre-loaded with the Ovi Store client allowing seamless addition of new apps.

The pricing was not unveiled in the press release, so we’re guessing it will wary by market…

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has actually unveiled the updated firmware version for its N96 model before they did the same for the N79 and N85. Yeah, we missed it, but it’s here now, nonetheless.

As usual, the latest firmware fixes many of the known bugs from the previous firmware, ensuring the device is more stable than before. In addition, some of the existing applications are updated, and there are also some new apps included with the firmware upgrade.

For instance:

• Nokia Email client and Mail for Exchange (MfE) is now preloaded on the device
• Settings Wizard has reached version 5.0
• Active Standby Email Plug-in is included to show new emails on Active Standby screen
• Audio Themes are supported
• Slideshow can be used as wallpaper
• WiFi Protected Setup
• Support of IAD (Independent Application Delivery) – allows certain apps to be updated independently over the air.

And the list goes on. You can get the full release log from Spazio Cellulare… As always, we advise you to push the trigger and update your N96.

[Via: AllAboutSymbian]

It seems Nokia (NYSE: NOK)’s flagship smartphone, N97, is heading to North America on June 2nd. That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to buy it on that day, that’s the shipping date for the Finnish giant’s distributors.

Apparently, they [Nokia] notified one of their major American partners of the estimated N97 NAM shipping date, and I guess they’ll be eager to start selling it as soon as they can. To make things clear, we’re talking about the version of the device with all the right bands to sing along AT&T (NYSE: T)’s and Rogers (NYSE: RCI) Wireless’ 3G networks.

Pre-orders have already started on some web stores, Nokia USA’s site included, so we’re kinda sure you’ll be able to grab your N97 unit in June, though we’re not sure whether it’s beginning, middle or the end of the month. As soon as we hear something new, we’ll let you know, k?

[Via: TheNokiaBlog]

Two of the popular Nokia (NYSE: NOK) NSeries device, N79 and N85, have been recently updated. Firmware version 20.175 fixes a number of reported bugs, slightly improves UI, and makes the device more stable than ever before. Moreover, some new features are included in the mix, too:

• Bookmarks updated to remove Download link folders
• MTP configuration to enable Social Cinema support
• Email plug-in functionality
• TP Wizard to check availability of Nokia email service
• Media player default settings changes
• Files on Ovi Widget
• Email wizard (aka Gimlet) is now visible in Settings Wizard selection
• Turn “PnP Mobile Services” On
• S&S Application updates
• MPX player not accessible when USB cable connected

Keeping your firmware up to date is something we always recommend. You can upgrade your device either over-the-air or through Nokia Software Updater, which is part of Nokia PC Suite. Full change log is available on Spazio Cellulare…

[Via: AllAboutSymbian]

Nokia (NYSE: NOK)’s highly anticipated N97 smartphone now has a dedicated page on the Finnish company’s website. From there you can learn all about this ubiquitous touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard-equipped device, including all the things you wanted to know about the mobile Internet on the N97, widgets, sharing capabilities, social networking, its camera (5 megapixels), connectivity, and a whole lot more. Moreover, you can sign-up to be informed when will the N97 start selling in your country or pre-order immediately if you live in Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the U.S. The Nokia N97 will ship in July for $699…

[Via: MobileBurn, Engadget]

Unlike the kickstand sound on the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) N96, the one used in the upcoming Nokia N86 8MP is “active.” Once opened, it starts a Kickstand app, allowing users to browse photos, maps, contacts, web, music; or check check their email — all from a comfort of their chair while Nokia’s 8 megapixel shooter stands on a desk nearby, entertaining them. Pretty cool huh?

I guess by now we know enough about the N86 8MP, so it’s about time the Finnish giant starts selling these babies. We can’t wait to try one for ourselves.

[Via: Engadget Mobile, SymbianGuru]

Bad news folks. Nokia (NYSE: NOK) keeps saving on hardware even in its high-end devices. The soon-to-be-released Nokia N97 will sport the single ARM11 CPU with clock speed at 434 MHz — i.e. no dedicated GPU. And while this is faster than the CPU used in the 5800 XM (369 MHz), it’s still kinda disappointing.

I know there are some folks out there who’ll argue that CPU is not the only component to look for and I somewhat agree with this claim. However, if we look at the upcoming Samsung Omnia HD, we’ll see that the Korean giant has a different (better, I think) approach. For its flagship Symbian handset, Samsung used the ARM Cortex-A8 600 MHz processor (some sites even suggest it’s 800 MHz) and a dedicated 3D graphics accelerator! Don’t tell me it won’t run faster than the N97, cause it MUST!

I do understand having high margins is very lucrative for Nokia, but c’mon. We’re talking about a very high end of the spectrum here. Does Nokia wants to lose its fan boys? Any thoughts?

[Via: SymbianFreak]

Adding the HTC Magic is obviously not enough for Italy’s TIM. They decided to follow the footsteps of Vodafone by including the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) N97 in their offering, too. The problem, however, is the price — HTC Magic will be available for 449 EUR, while Nokia’s flagship device will be sold for whooping 150 EUR more. If we would compare the two devices in an “apples to apples” manner, that would mean that QWERTY keyboard costs 150 EUR, which is kinda ridiculous. On the other hand, we’re talking about two different platforms, each having its loyal followers.

Finally, I’m guessing the current steep price is for hard-core Nokia fanboys and will go down with the time. We’ll see…

[Via: BGR]

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has released a new firmware upgrade for its N78 smartphone. The update fixes a number of bugs and glitches found in the previous firmware v20.149. The detailed change log is not available at the moment, but as always we advise you to keep your devices up to date (and to backup your data prior to doing so).

To grab the latest firmware, you can either use Nokia Software Updater desktop software or do everything from the phone itself. In the latter case, go to “Tools” > “Utilities” > “Device Manager.” Once there, select “Options,” “Check for updates,” and then follow the instructions provided on the screen. If you opt to update your N78 over the air, make sure you’re using a WiFi connection to save some bandwidth costs — that’s in case if you’re not on an unlimited data plan. The file is smaller than 1 MB, so it shouldn’t take long to download it. Good luck!

[Via: Symbian-Freak]

Good news for our North American readers who at the same time like Nokia (NYSE: NOK) smartphones. The single most desirable Finnish smartphone, N97, has been spotted at the FCC. And we’re talking about the real U.S. version, all with the right bands to sing along AT&T (NYSE: T)’s 3G network (1900 MHz). Everything the European/Asian version has is also included — like WiFi, Bluetooth, WM transmitter, HSDPA, large touchscreen and of course, the full QWERTY keyboard. Now it’s all about AT&T to pick it up, subsidize it, and make some money along the way. Yap, this baby should steal some thunder from the iPhone, or at least Nokia hopes so. We’ll see how that will go…

[Via: Engadget]