Nokia Unveils New Smartphones to compete Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry

Nokia to launch Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6 and Nokia X3 smartphones by the end of 2009

In a bid to carve out a large Smartphone market share and curb Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry holdings, Nokia unveiled three new Smatphones, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6 and Nokia X3. These Smartphones are expected to hit the market by the last quarter of 2009.

According to Mr. Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, chief executive of Nokia, they aim to reach the masses and not a few elite people. This, he said, will be done through open partnerships with the world leaders in various fields.

Nokia held 45 per cent of smartphone market share, the biggest, in the second quarter but it has dipped due to tough competition offered by Apple and RIM.

Nokia N97 mini will sport touch display and deploy OVI application for Lifecasting. This move will help users to access several social networking sites like Facebook and update their profile.

Nokia X6 and Nokia X3 will be used to upgrade Nokia’s music phone genre.

Nokia recently launched Booklet 3G Notebook along with N900 Smartphone. The company also announced that MS Office will be available on its Smartphones from next year.

Analysts think that Nokia is moving the right moves by unveiling new and innovative products but its profitability doubtable this year.

According to FIM Bank analyst, Mr. Michael Schroeder, Nokia will reap the benefits of its new products from next year and not from this year end and only the future will decide about the acceptance of these products by the consumers worldwide.

He also criticized Nokia for its outdated and complex Symbian User Interface. However he praised Linux Maemo platform run on N900.

Pohjola Bank analyst, Mr. Hannu Rauhala, says that the Finnish mobile giant (Nokia) will have to contemplate on large scales of its products and the changes are not likely to be made that quickly. Also its Symbian S60 interface in smartphones is a traditional one and not modern.

It is to be noticed that Nokia’s sales have declined since third quarter of 2008 and has forced it to slash cost and decrease its manpower by around 4000!