22-08-2008: Finally, the release date of the Nokia N96 is available. A spokesman of KPN, a Dutch provider, mentioned to Mobile Phone Helpdesk that the device is available from 15 September with KPN.
By: Tim Wijkman
The Nokia N96 was launched in February this year at the Mobile World Congress and finally the release date is coming closer, as turned out today. A spokesman of KPN mentioned today that the Nokia N96 will be available from 15 September for one month exclusively with KPN. The device will also be available with other providers from 15 October.
The Nokia N96 will be the third device in the KPN portfolio that supports Mobile TV. The number of devices with the so-called DVB-H network support is still limited. Because the Nokia N96 also offers DVB-H support besides its smartphone functions the device will only be sold with KPN for one month.
The Nokia N96 will become the follower of the Nokia N95 and it has to overrule the entertainment qualities of this overwhelming device. Mobile Phone Helpdesk researches the device and checks out whether it is a true follower of the N95.
Design
The Nokia N96 is designed in the shape of a so-called dual-slider. This means that the device can be opened in two directions. A numbered keyboard can be revealed at the bottom and specific multimedia keys can be opened at the top of the device. The display of the Nokia N96 takes up a central place, it naturally is the place on which all multimedia functions of the device can be viewed. The display is a 16.000.000 colours display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and a size of 2.8 inch.
Nokia N96
The Nokia N96 is made out of shiny materials. The black colour gives it a tight look but the shiny material also makes the slider a real fat-catcher. Fat fingers are directly visible on the device so you keep on polishing. The Nokia N96 is focused on easy management of your favourite multimedia. Several standard keys are placed around the regular navigation key but some smaller music keys that you can use to start, stop, pause and skip your music are also placed here. At the right of the central key a small silver-coloured key can be found, when you press this the multimedia that you used recently will be displayed.
Nokia N96
Multimedia at her best
The Nokia N96 will be the follower of the Nokia N95. The Nokia N95 is a device that was hard to overrule but the Nokia N96 still gives it a try. Just like the Nokia N95, the Nokia N96 has a 5 megapixel camera with flash. This camera has a Carl Zeiss lense, something that guarantees sharp shots. The autofocus function makes sure that the device automatically focuses on the part you want, a square on the display turns green in that case and it's time to take the shot. The camera of the N96 is equipped with an LED flash, this hopefully is a powerful flash but we would have prefered a Xenon flash here, which evidently offers more power.
Nokia N96
A small silver-coloured standard is placed around the camera of the Nokia N96. When this standard is opened, the N96 can be put to her side so the diagonal angle makes sure the display can be viewed in a relaxed way. This is perfect in combination with the DVB-H support with which you can watch realtime television. Due to this you don't have to hold your mini-television all the time, you can just put it down and enjoy the entertainment on your mobile phone.
Mobile TV on the Nokia N96
Of course, a musicplayer is not overlooked on a device like the Nokia N96. What space does this device offer! An internal memory of 16 gigabyte. And if that is not enough yet you can also expand this with MicroSD and TransFlash memorycards. You'll always have plenty of space and you can use your musicplayer as much as you want. It's also possible to listen to the radio. Plug in the delivered stereo headset and the radio does the rest.
Of course, the internet becomes a true pleasure with the N96. The large display in combination with the built-in level sensor that autmatically rotates the display and the high speeds that are guaranteed by the network support. The Nokia N96 is equipped with the UMTS network and HSDPA as makes it even faster, on top of this it is possible to use WiFi when a wireless network is near. Due to this, the internet will always be as quick as possible and the browser and userfriendliness are superb.
Internet on Nokia N96
When it's not that easy to make a call, for example due to the sounds in the environment, it is possible to use MSN Messenger to communicate. MSN is installed as a standard on the device and it can be used in combination with a data connection, the same is for e-mail, in which different e-mail clients can be used. You can also do some useful things, full Microsoft Office support is on board of the dual-slider.
The Nokia N96 is a great promise for her fans, the device really has everything when it comes to multimedia and entertainment capacities and the user of the device will need more time to fully play with this gadget.
The Nokia N96 will come to the market at 15 September, her full possibilities can be read at her
specifications page.