14 DAY TRIAL // We're not too fond of the "iPhone killer" expression, but the future full touchscreen handset prepared by Nokia, named "Tube" for the moment, might really be a device that can outrun Apple's sleek phone in all aspects. Or it might not, but knowing what Nokia can do when it comes to high-end mobile devices, it's hard to believe the "Nokia Tube" will not be among the most advanced handsets around.
Based on a new Symbian S60 Touch-enabled users interface, Nokia Tube was presented "in a slide", during the Evans Data Developer Relations Conference held in California, InfoWorld reports.
Apparently, the new Nokia has a look resembling the iPhone's, and it would be hard not to, since when "building" a full-touchscreen handset you have limited design possibilities. Anyway, the phone's look is not the reason why it can be considered a real threat to iPhone's success. What the Finnish company will probably count on is the handset's full-touch interface combined with advanced Nokia-specific features, including high-quality video capabilities.
Although a release date for the Tube phone was not unveiled, the device will probably come until the end of 2008, when it will have to stand against the 3G iPhone or Sony Ericsson's Xperia X1 and Paris touchscreen handsets. Tough competition, that's for sure, but the largest handset manufacturer in the world was never afraid of competing with anyone.
Talking about the iPhone, which was sold in about 5 million units since its 2007 launch, Tom Libretto, vice president of Forum Nokia, said yesterday: "We've done that since we've had dinner on Friday", referring to the fact that 5 million Nokia phones were sold only in three days, while it took Apple more than a half of year to do that. Sure, those 5 million Nokia devices include a large number of models, starting with the low-end (hence cheap) ones, so the comparison with iPhone's sales is a bit forced. I guess that if Mr. Libretto had brought-up the sales of Nokia N95 (more than 7 million units shipped worldwide), the reference to Apple's sales would have been a relevant one.
Until the real Nokia Tube (or whatever it will be called in the end) surfaces, enjoy the video teaser with the S60 Touch UI that will power the Tube phone: