Nokia Corp. is expected to unveil a high-profile touch-screen phone, known by gadget aficionados as the "Tube," at an event on Thursday, according to industry analysts.
In launching the device, the world's largest handset maker by shipments takes its stab at Apple Inc.'s iPhone, which set off a wave of copycat devices that attempted to emulate its sleek user interface. Nokia is the last of the major handset makers to put out a touch-screen cellphone.
"Nokia is under enormous pressure to deliver something that's good," said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Gartner Inc. "People have been waiting for this for over a year now."
The device, which will be called the Nokia 5800, emphasizes music first and is more of a multimedia player than a full-blown smart phone. Key to the device will be Nokia's Comes With Music software, which takes on Apple's iTunes store. A Nokia spokeswoman declined to comment.
With the Tube, Nokia will be entering a crowded field. Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. have tried their hand with multiple touch-screen devices.
Motorola Inc. has its Ming product in
By: Roger Cheng
The Wall Street Journal; September 30, 2008
