Nokia Begins Shipping N86 SmartphoneNokia Begins Shipping N86 Smartphone

Nokia is now shipping its N86 smartphone, and the handset is a viable replacement for a standalone digital camera.

The smartphone has a sliding form factor and a 2.6-inch OLED glass screen that should be sharp and clear. To help take better pictures, the handset has a dual LED flash and multiple auto-focus features. Of course, having a high megapixel count doesn't guarantee a great photo, and Nokia said it has worked with optics experts at Carl Zeiss to ensure that the device can take good pictures in various lighting conditions. The N86 also has a mechanical shutter, which enables users to capture multiple images at quick speeds.

The handset has 8 GB of storage for photos, media, and other types of files, and users can expand that by an additional 16 GB via the microSD slot.

Images may be shared via various online sites such as Flickr, Picasa, and Facebook through the integrated Wi-Fi, 3G, or EDGE connections. There's also a GPS chipset that can be used to geotag photos, as well as location-based services such as local search and turn-by-turn directions.

The N86 is built on the Symbian S60 platform, which means it will be able to access the Ovi Store for over-the-air downloads of new programs and applications. The handset is on sale now unlocked for around $525.

Having any camera in a phone was considered a luxury not too long ago, but manufacturers are increasingly boosting pixel counts to make their handsets more attractive. Nokia is the latest manufacturer to hit the 8-megapixel mark, joining Samsung and LG Electronics. Sony Ericsson is trying to up the ante by packing in a 12-megapixel camera in its Symbian-powered Satio.

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