After stumbling out of the gate with the U.S. introduction of its first touch-screen smartphone, Nokia issues a software update for its Nokia 5800 XpressMusic device. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic comes with the usual array of smartphone features, plus users can buy an unlocked version of the mobile device that will run on AT&T's 3G network.Nokia said March 29 it has issued a software update for its troubled Nokia
5800 XpressMusic device. A best seller in Europe, Nokia introduced
the XpressMusic consumer touch-screen smartphone to the United
States in late February. Nokia touted the
phone as a serious rival to Apple's iPhone.
A week later, Nokia temporarily
pulled the device from U.S. shelves after users complained of 3G
connectivity issues.
The software update promises faster Internet data downloads, improved e-mail
and search service, and additional camera support for a burst mode that allows
users to take multiple pictures with single button presses.
"The update includes great improvements in the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic,"
Nokia's Soren Petersen, senior vice president for devices, said in a statement.
"As mobile devices become more and more advanced, additional features and
new functionalities are easy to install to the existing device."
Running the fifth edition of Symbian S60, the smartphone features a 3.2-inch
touch-screen with 360-by-640 resolution, a 3.2-megapixel camera, GPS,
Wi-Fi and an FM radio receiver. The 5800 XpressMusic also comes with software
for viewing Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents.
The device delivers access to all music, video and photos through a
one-touch "Media Bar" drop-down menu. The bar also offers a direct
link to the Internet and to online file sharing. Because the device supports
Flash content, individuals can surf the entire Web.
A contacts bar allows users to highlight four favorite contacts on the home
screen and track a history of recent text messages, e-mails, phone logs, photos
and blog updates with one touch.
The 5800 comes with 8GB of on-board memory with the ability to expand to 16GB
through a MicroSD slot.
After the reported connectivity glitches, Nokia promised a quick resolution
and had the phones back on the U.S.
market in a matter of days.
"We have concluded this was an isolated situation related to a
configuration change in the North American variant," Nokia said in a
statement.