Nokia's N97

Bryan McGovern
Information Systems

The recent buzz surrounding Nokia’s production of a lap top computer has been silenced by the introduction of their N97 smartphone. The rumors of the laptop are not far off because the phone looks extremely similar to a lap top but has the capabilities to fit in your pocket. The phone will go on the market for $695 when it is launched in mid-2009. The phone has a 3.5 inch touch screen but also has a fold out keyboard underneath. In the open position the phone resembles a miniature laptop. Users have the option to type on the screen or use the compact keyboard. This is a new innovation compared to the current phones on the market that do not have this capability. With this new option, Nokia is continuing to counter the recent surge by Apple and their staple product, the iphone. Nokia’s previous new product launched in October unveiled 5800 touch handset, aimed at music lovers in order to rival the iphone.
The key selling point of the new silvery finish N97 is that it targets younger generations and their proclivity to surf the Internet. Another facet that sets this new phone apart is the size and capacity of memory. With a built-in storage of 32 GB, those customers that are not satisfied have the possibility to expand to 48 GB. To entice buyers of the new smartphone, Nokia will package the phone with services such as music downloads and turn-by-turn navigation. Its camera produces DVD-quality video, and Nokia claims that the battery is the company’s most powerful yet allowing a day and half of continuous music. Unlike the iphone, the N97 will vibrate slightly when touched, offering confirmation that input has been received.
Despite Nokia’s unusual early release date, it in turn allows Nokia’s developers enough time to write the programs that will be crucial to the N97’s appeal. This new product line gives Nokia an upper hand in the new race for innovative phones. Not only does the N97 compete with the iphone but also the voyager and blackberry. Nokia has had a tendency to lag behind the leading competitors in the phone industry, however with the arrival of the N97, Nokia will regain their title as one of the top phone producers on the market.