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Nokia looks to the future with 50 million Symbian^3 sales predicted

N8 is key, but C6, C7 and E7 also due for launch

Nokia looks to the future with 50 million Symbian^3 sales predicted
In his valedictory Nokia World keynote, Anssi Vanjoki, Nokia's outgoing executive vice president in charge its Mobile Solutions group, remained as bullish as ever about the Finnish giant's future impact.

"Nokia invented the smartphone and we've sold 300 millions Symbian device to-date," he said.

Yet despite the fact he's now working out his six month notice, following the corporate shake up following the appointment of new CEO Stephen Elop, he was looking to Nokia's future and partnership with the much maligned Symbian OS - notably in the shape of its new family of Symbian^3 devices.

Indeed, Nokia expects to sell 50+ million of these; a conservative number says its sale boss.

Lucky number eight

The key device in the family is, of course, the Nokia N8.

"N8 is an important milestone for us. It's a completely different user experience with the familiarity of the new," he explained, of the device, which is the first smartphone to use the Symbian^3 operating system.

However Vanjoki complained that some of the press had already taken a view on the device from screenshots of its UI, something he compared to judging a new sports car from photos of its dashboard.

"You need to drive a car so I hope you'll have the opportunity to get your hands on the N8 soon," he said.

Yet, while the N8 may be Nokia's flagship device for 2010, it's certainly not the only one running Symbian^3.

Bring the family

The Nokia C6 is a compact touchscreen device boasting a steel case, 8 MP camera and Nokia's Clear Black Display technology.

Labelled as providing a premium touchscreen experience, providing higher contrast, and "blacker than black" colour thanks to its use of polarising glass, this provides excellent out door visibility.

Similar in shape and style is the Nokia C7, although it's thinner, and possesses a larger 3.5-inch display and more memory within its stainless steel body

"It's the sleekest, smoothest device in the world," Vanjoki reckoned.

Finally, there's the Nokia E7, which builds on the legacy of the Nokia 9000 Communicator

"It's big but it's beautiful and it's all business," roared Vanjoki, who sounded like he was really enjoying himself by this stage.

Very thin, the aluminum cased E7 offers a touchscreen and a slide out QWERTY keyboard.

"Nothing beats a real keyboard to get your work done," Vanjoki said. "This is Nokia's and the world's best business class device ever."

With Microsoft Exchange and support for Redmond's suite of business software, not to mention the usual secure email service beloved of the corporates, this is clearly Nokia's BlackBerry beater - something that should have RIM more than a little worried, at least in terms of sales outside North America.

And then with the shortest mention that this was his final Nokia World, Anssi Vanjoki was gone.

Contributing Editor

A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.