Nokia Unveils 5800 'Car' PhoneNokia Unveils 5800 'Car' Phone

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Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition

Nokia's 5800 Navigation Edition is a Symbian-powered smartphone that doesn't boast major hardware improvements from the 5800 handset released earlier this year, but it is packed with software to help users find the right route.

The handset comes with a lifetime license to the company's Drive and Walk services, which offer audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic alerts, and automatic re-routing.

The handset will also have Ovi Maps preinstalled, and Nokia's Google Maps competitor offers 3-D views, weather information, location-based points of interest, and the ability to wirelessly sync with the desktop version. The location-centric smartphone will also come with a car charger and a car kit to mount the device while driving.

The 5800 Navigation Edition has a 3.2-inch resistive touch screen that has a 360 by 640 resolution. The handset includes Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and 8 GB of on-board memory that can be expanded via a microSD slot. Nokia has marked the 5800 Navigation Edition to be released in the third quarter; it is expected to retail for around $400 before carrier subsidies.

Nokia's location-centric handset comes as more consumers are looking for converged devices that can handle their communication, entertainment, and navigation needs. TomTom, AT&T, Navigon, and Gokivo have all released apps that enable iPhone owners to get audible turn-by-turn directions on their handset.

GPS maker Garmin also is trying to get into this space, as it has teamed with Asus to create a line of smartphones with deep integration of location-based features.

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