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Nokia launch new smartphone to defend market share

Nokia chiefs have vowed to defend their top spot in the mobile phone industry despite increased competitive pressure from the iPhone and Blackberry.

The latest offering was unveiled just one week after the launch of the much hyped iPhone 4. Nokia’s new top-end device, the touch-screen N8, has just been introduced at the company’s annual trade event in Singapore.

Speaking at the event, Nokia bosses insisted they are still the market leaders. "Nokia's leadership has been questioned in recent months. However, it is often overlooked that we continue to have the largest market share in mobile devices and the largest share in smartphones, which is the fastest growing segment."

The Nokia N8 handset has an HDMI interface allowing users to connect the device to a TV. Other high-end specifications of the new device include: Ovi Maps tool, access to Ovi Store for applications, access to web TV and extended 50 hours of MP3 music playback.

The price of the handset, sim-free, will cost approximately £308 ($370) before taxes and subsidies. It is expected that Vodafone is soon to launch the new handset to the UK market.