• Check out Jason Goh’s website for more up to date videos & reviews of the N97.

• Now I’ve got no excuse not to keep in contact!!

Nokia is planning to release the Ovi store (ovi fittingly means ‘door’ in Finnish) at the same time as it showcases it’s giant leap forward, the Nokia N97. This conincidental and planned dual release of both hardware and software/media services will surely create a much larger and longer lasting media buzz than just the N97 alone ever could.

The Ovi store is arguably the surf board with which Nokia will ride forward with speed to attempt catch-up with the as-yet unchallenged ubiquitous iPhone. Whilst it’s true that touch screen mobiles are now , Nokia’s latest addition will undoubtedly be enhanced by Ovi.

Perhaps the biggest step forward for Nokia isn’t so much the wide range of 3rd party application that will be available, but much more the huge range of movies that will be viewable (presumably on a pay-per-view service structure), alongside a Minority Report style ultra-targeted aGPS-based advertising model.

Let’s not forget the N97’s ultimate configurability, too, however: customizable widgets, the integration of social media & business applications, multimedia capabilities – truly, this promises to live up to the Nokia claim It Becomes What You Are.

Roll on June/July

What’s interesting is the seamless way your social media info can be integrated into the desktop. Also, the vibrate feedback touch screen sounds intriguing!!

Facebook, Twitter, Email - whatever you want!

Twitter has recently announced that UK Twitter users can now receive inbound Tweets at no cost. If they decide to combine this with Skype on N97 handsets, then they’ll beat the other UK carriers HANDS-DOWN in terms of take up by the new Mobile computing fraternity. Are you listening Vodafone?!!

What will this mean to the average user? Well, first of all, I don’t think the Nokia N97 is targetted at teh average user. It’s a high end mobile compuing platform that replaces many of the functions that several current devices do very well, but with the convenience and speed that comes with everything under one roof. Features that I’m personally looking forward to usng for my business include:

• High speed internet access
• Live video streaming (to Qix/uStream.tv etc) & video phoning
• Massive storage
• Social Media embedded with business applications
• A good quality camera, and DVD quality video recording & playback
• AGPS & mapping
• Keyboard AND massive 640×480 touch screen

Whilst it’s true that there are several good competitors to the N97, some with higher end spec cameras, the Nokia N97 is the only device which seems to combine all of these features on one place.

Don’t forget it’s multimedia features too, like stereo high speed bluetooth, mp3 downloads, and too much too list here.

Will I be getting one? You bet!