The Down Under smartphone market battled intensified yesterday with the launch of new models from Nokia and Sony along with news of the possible launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S III on May 31.Nokia launched its hotly-anticipated – and colourful – Lumia 900, pictured, at a glittery event in Kings Cross Sydney yesterday evening. The new Nokia flagship model runs under Microsoft’s Windows Phone “Tango” software and has a 4.3-inch touchscreen. There’s a single-core 1.4GHz processor, 5112MB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory and an 8MP rear camera.
The Lumia 900 will be available in June from Optus for zero upfront on a $60 monthly plan, and from “major retailers” for a recommended $699.
Meanwhile Sony announced its Xperia Sola smartphone, its fourth model since dissolution of the Sony-Ericsson joint venture. The Sola ships with Android 2.3 “Gingerbread” software but will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich shortly.
A new feature dubbed “floating touch” allows users to browse via fingers hovering just above the 3.7-inch screen. The Sola is exclusive to Harvey Norman stores at $486.
Meanwhile Samsung’s PR agency Edelman yesterday sent media teaser invitations for an “exclusive launch of Samsung’s latest offering” at an event in Sydney on May 31.
The product wasn’t named but Samsung promised media will “experience firsthand a product that is set to change the way we interact with technology”.
To a man (and woman or two) the press interpreted this as the launch of the Galaxy III S, a high-end Android smartphone that features a 4.8-inch Super Amoled display, and a 1.4GHz quad-core processor.
Still to come in the months ahead will be the next model of Apple’s iPhone, very likely with a bigger screen than the current 3.5-incher. Watch this space.
