According to the company’s official statement, they do plan on switching to Windows Phone 7, albeit over the next two years which gives them plenty of time to release some of the previously promised Symbian devices. Whether MeeGo will see the light of day on a Nokia branded smartphone during this period is of course not known but seeing the company’s ever increasing want to push MeeGo off to the side we highly doubt the platform will take a major residence in the company’s two year timeline.

Nokia has also stated that Symbian users should look for a major OTA software update coming this summer. The company has given the Ovi Store a “fresh look and feel” thanks to a new UI that includes revamped layout and new buttons.

While these improvements and phones are not designed to save the Symbian platform, Nokia is known for offering some of the best software support in the mobile phone industry and we’re guessing this is one of those things where the company is looking to keep its Symbian users happy while they work out the kinks of Windows Phone 7.

Source: Engadget

What many people tend to forget is that it is the mid range handsets that sell the most –after all, this is where the majority of the target market is concentrated. However, when asked to come up with hardware specs for a new smart phone, people tend to concentrate on giving the device higher specifications.

As it stands, the Nokia concept phone will come with an 8 mega pixel camera, a 4 inch touch screen display and so far, an undisclosed processor capabilities. Even with the CPU still undetermined, it is easy to see the direction that the concept is moving towards. The request for an operating system that is both open source and can handle unlimited multitasking also seems more in the direction of the Google Android instead of the Symbian or the Moblin mobile platforms.

While it is unlikely that all the specs in the Nokia conversations blog will be added into this device, it is easy to see what the typical mentality of consumers are: when it comes to actual purchases, specifications that are practical are selected. For wishful thinking, users would like to see and over the top hardware configuration as long as they would not be forced to purchase the product later on.

The design by community event has already finalized the specifications and has since moved to the part where the community chooses from three available designs for the smart phone.

In terms of form factor, the Nokia C6 is as regular as a handset can be. When we said simple, we meant it. This Symbian handset comes with a simple form factor, large touch screen display, a slide out keyboard and a short row of buttons below the screen. The overall effect is subtle yet effective. In black, the design looks pretty serious and high end. In white, the phone is elegant and sophisticated. Either way, the design works and users simply need to choose the variation that works best for them.

The keyboard on the handset is a joy to use. The four row layout might seem a little cramped with the extra pad on the right side of the keyboard, but after a short while, owners will be used to the control setup. In any case, many smart phone users will enjoy being able to type out long messages and posts easily on a keyboard. Also, the buttons are quite responsive –making it an effective keyboard.

The one thing that users might be complaining about is the TFT resistive touch screen display. The lack of multi touch and gestures is pretty crippling when it comes to browsing and searching through the device –making it a little more tedious than it would be on a capacitive touch screen display. The device also comes with a 5 mega pixel camera for taking videos and images.

Lowered price tags are really taking a bite out of Nokia’s financial status, and there is nothing that the company is able to do about it other than start focusing on high end smart phones.

As expected, the number of smart phone users each year is increasing. Not that there is no market for 2G devices (these are often good as emergency use handsets or to be brought along to events where minding an expensive smart phone is out of the picture –such as really fun parties where the chances of coming home sober are virtually zero). In any case, the price for 2G devices is continuously going down as the standard shifts more and more towards smart phones.

Nokia has always been able to balance its financial performance each year with its sales from low end devices, but as the technology moves forward, the company is forced to concentrate more on its’ high end line. However, as well known as the Symbian platform may be, many industry experts feel that the platform is not good enough to compete with the likes of the Android and the BlackBerry OS.

If the upcoming launch of the Nokia N9 smart phone is to be any indication, then the Finnish phone maker is more than well aware of the situation, they are already preparing for it.

The Nokia N-series (their flagship line of handsets) is getting a major revamp with the MeeGo operating system. They had already began preparations last year with the Maemo OS but the sudden tie up with Intel’s Moblin team to develop the MeeGo operating system delayed plans. The upcoming Nokia N8 will be the last handset to use the Symbian^3 OS.

According to recent reports, the Symbian OS is not looking good. Many doubt that even the upcoming Nokia N8 and Symbian^3 operating system would be able to help the ailing OS. Despite having once been the most widely used operating system for mobile phone users, many are passing up on the Symbian.

It has to be noted that the Symbian’s initial popularity was one of technicality: the Nokia devices they were installed on where what was selling. In an era where a mobile handset’s operating system was not a key factor, the Symbian OS dominated the field.

With the emergence and popularity of smart phone devices however, people are not aware of the value of a good operating system –and the choice of handsets is as influenced by its OS as much as the hardware specifications would.

Google’s Android OS is major competitor that has taken over the field. In just two years, the open source mobile platform has become the most widely used smart phone OS. And with less and less people using generic 2G devices, it seems that the OS with control of the smart phone market will be the one that dominates.

Nokia still has high hopes for the Symbian Foundation. Not only are they excited about the upcoming Nokia N8, but are pretty much open to the idea of a Symbian^4 handset appearing on the N-series.

Just recently, images showed the Nokia N9 being placed right alongside the Apple iPhone 3G and the HTC EVO 4G to show off how big the smart phone truly is and at the same time giving us all an idea of how big the screen really is. Not surprisingly, the handset looks like it is packing a nice big 4 inch TFT capacitive touch screen display (though there are source that indicate that the smart phone might be using Samsung’s super AMOLED touch screen technology too, as seen on the Samsung Wave).

Aside from the impressive touch screen size, the handset has been confirmed to have an 8 mega pixel camera with auto focus, LED flash, and 720p HD video recording capabilities. Add in the additional HDMI port and you have got a great combination for a video phone.

The N9 is rumored to be the best Symbian handset available and possibly the device will be getting a name change. According to Nokia, the upcoming Nokia N8 smart phone will be the last time Symbian handset will be part of the N series of mobile phones. This means that the N9 might be getting a name change some time soon.

Early videos of the handset that showcases the Symbian OS also shows that the device is actually labeled as the C0 and C0-00 on the casing. At the same time, the Symbian OS installed in the handset identifies the model as an N00.

Nokia and Intel’s MeeGo OS will be the new platform standard for N-series devices later in the future. Currently, the developer version of MeeGo is already available.

First off, Nokia has already confirmed that the N8 smart phone is the last Symbian handset to be part of the N-series. This means that MeeGo will be the new operating system for the series as the Symbian^3 and the upcoming Symbian^4 will be adapted by other Nokia phone series such as the E series and C series handsets

Surprisingly, the video of the “N9” shows the device up close and judging from the small designation on the upper left area of the screen as well as the small print on the back of the handset, it appears that the N9 might actually be the “C0” –or C0-00 as it is printed on the back. Oddly enough, checking the device settings on the handset reveals that the Model is called the “N00”. With this conflicting data, it seems best to just stick to calling the handset as the N9, for now, until the Finnish manufacturer finally decides to announce an official name for the handset.

Naming issues aside, there is plenty to look forward to with this upcoming handset. The device has so far proven to be a very well made multimedia smart phone featuring what is rumored to be Samsung’s super AMOLED touch screen technology, a slide out QWERTY keyboard, a fully loaded 8 mega pixel camera with all the important features and 720p video recording, and the handset itself comes with an HDMI (as well as a TV-out component) output for video.

It is actually pretty important, as scrolling with a finger can quite be tiring when you have to drag your finger across the screen several times over just to get to the bottom. Aside from tiring your hand out, the friction between the finger and the screen can get uncomfortable. This may seem like nitpicking, but there is actually a significant difference between a phone that has it and one that does not. And the 5530, as the new patch, certainly has it.

For those who missed out on the details of this little Ovi capable Symbian smart phone from Nokia, the XpressMusic 5530 is actually one of the most budget friendly devices in the series. Not only is the device cheap, but it is also packed with the right features. Nothing you would not find in other mobile phones, but a good combination nonetheless.

The smart phone comes with a decently sized 2.9 inch TFT resistive touch screen display, the Symbian S60 OS version 9.4, an ARM 11 434MHz CPU, a 1000mAh battery, and a 3.15 mega pixel camera. For anyone who wants a great smart phone that still stays within a good budget range, the 5530 is an excellent choice.

Aside from bringing kinetic scrolling to the whole device, the update also adds a bit of functionality to the smart phone as well. First off, it frees up a couple of MB of RAM –which is always a welcome thing and some of the music icons have gotten a graphic face lift.

As you may have guessed from the name, this handset will be giving users Nokia’s excellent (and more importantly, free) voice guided satellite navigation services through the use of Ovi maps. Since the Nokia 2710 is a basic smart phone, the Ovi add-on is the only thing special about this device, and somehow, the whole bundle works quite well.

Obviously, mobile phone was not made for those who are very specific about their smart phones –the device only uses the old Symbian S40 OS so do not expect to get some fancy features on the handset. On the other hand, people who simply want to consolidate their GPS devices and mobile phones will really appreciate the 2710.

In action, the Nokia 2710 provides users with a pretty good view of the map and detailed instructions on how to get a specified destination. The device’s 2.2 inch TFT screen might seem small for most people’s tastes, but when mounted properly on a car’s dashboard, it actually looks great, and checking where you are on the map takes only a simple glance.

The value of having GPS as a basic feature on a 2G handset bring to us the reality that people no longer get lost as much –or rather, the use of electronic devices to help one move around is such a common concept that it is slowly becoming a necessity.

Sure, anyone can ask directions, but having a GPS device gives people freedom to explore without fear of losing one’s way. These navigation devices have encouraged many people to take new and different routes –often stumbling upon things that they would have otherwise never found. With the Nokia 2710 available, that freedom of movement is now more accessible to everyone.

The problem with the Symbian platform has nothing to do with the operating system but actually with the user interface it comes to the market with. Nokia is likely to deliver a new hardware in the year 2010 and a new software to go with it will also be released. It is hoped that by the time the Symbian UI is released in the coming year, every issue that is related with it will be resolved. Users will then have the benefits of freely enjoying a large capacitive touchscreen displays and multi capabilities as more features will be added.

Some other changes to expect include the removal of a large number of user prompts (350) that always annoys users at the moment. The aim of Nokia is to target turning the user interface of its operating system into something that will blow the minds of its users. As the images below shows, Nokia appears to be telling the whole world of its readiness to launch a Symbian UI that will keep the world smiling and asking for more.

A recent article found on Engadget, reveals Nokia’s plan to reduce the number of steps users require to access various functions of the device, (“2 taps to get to favorite music or video instead of 8, create an email account in 2 steps, not 4”), and not to forget to add that the Espoo plans to improve the browsing experience users receive from the Symbian – powered mobile phone.

What Nokia has done by giving us a preview of what to expect is just to prepare the market for the big launch even as the market continues to get stiffer by the day.