Nokia Previews iPhone-killer Named Tube

• Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
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• Author: pradhana
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• Filed under: 3G Handset, Nokia

Nokia has unveiled its answer to Apple's iPhone: a touchscreen handset that is both Java and Flash-enabled and currently code-named Tube. The iPhone does not support either technology. The Tube will also be able to upload photos. While the handset maker did not disclose any details about the timing of the launch of the device, reports claim the company plans to launch it before the 3G iPhone drops, which could be as soon as 60 days from now, but is scheduled to drop before the end of 2008.

Nokia believes it can compete with iPhone, and during his presentation, Libretto compared volume shipments of iPhone to Nokia's shipments of phones. Since the launch of iPhone in June, Apple has shipped 5 million to 6 million of the devices, paling in comparison to Nokia's device shipments, Libretto said. "We've done that [volume] since we've had dinner on Friday," he said. Apple later said that only 4 million iPhones shipped as of January.

The Nokia Tube was shown off at the laugh–a–minute Evans Data Developer Relations Conference in Redwood City, California. The slick new high–end device will have an Apple–alike touchscreen and the ability to slap photos straight onto the net. OK, not so revolutionary, but from the little we’ve seen, it does look like it’ll give the iPhone a run for its money.

Word is that the Nokia Tube will support Java, something Apple's none too keen to get on the iPhone. Chances are it'll also be 3G, with GPS too.The 16:9 screen will be bigger than the 3in offering on the iPhone, but this won’t be the complete rival to Apple we’ve all ben hoping for.

That’s coming soon after the Tube’s launch, apparently.This means we’re not looking at an N–series phone, rather an ‘Xpress Media’ one which will sit alongside the Xpress Music cells released last year.

Features–wise, the Tube is certainly stacked. We’re talking EDGE, GPRS, HSDPA, WLAN, Bluetooth and GPS. The screen however, won’t be multitouch, but rather the haptic approach favoured by Samsung. [FierceWireless/Stuff.tv]

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