Finland’s Nokia has announced a new version of its N95 Internet-enabled smartphone, increasing the onboard storage capacity to 8 GB…and pre-loading the units with the Sony Pictures film Spider-Man 3 in Europe and selected markets in the Middle East and Africa.
The N95 features a 2.8-inch QVGA display, integrated speakers, and a two-way slide design providing quick access to media controls. Nokia characterizes the N95 as a “multimedia computer,” capable of handing mobile communications, email, applications, messaging, and entertainment all in one package. The new Spider-Man-themed N95 features a black casing plus Spider-man messages, ringtone, wall paper, and screensaver, and Nokia plans to enhance the offering with additional media (even games) downloadable through Nokia’s Download catalog in selected markets. The device also features integrated GPS capability and a five megapixel camera.
The 8 GB version of the N95 is priced at about €before taxes or subsidies; Nokia has not announced whether it plans to release the 8 GB version of the N95 in the North American market, although the company did bring the original N95 to the U.S. very shortly after announcing its availability in Europe earlier this year.
Perhaps as a consolation prize, Nokia has announced a new CMDA phone exclusively for the North American market, the Nokia 2135—although its feature set is a far cry from the N95. Designed to appeal to mobile users who want just the basics, the 2135 offers a 400-address phone book, 3.5 hours of talk time, 11 days of standby time, and an integrated speakerphone. A built-in calendar application can keep track of birthdays and anniversaries, and the 2135 can act as a voice recorder, recording and tracking 60-second audio clips as users go about their day. Nokia says the “popularly priced” 2135 should be available in North America this fall.
