Nokia showed off its N8 smartphone during an event in central London this afternoon and V3.co.uk was there to have a play around with the device.

Although the N8 on show was only a prototype, Nokia said it was in the final stages of development so it's unlikely the handset will change a great deal in the version that eventually ships.

First impressions of the N8 are positive, with the 135g device feeling lightweight, yet sturdy. The aluminium casing was shown to be scratch proof and will come in five eye-catching colours.

The smartphone runs the Symbian 3 OS, and comes with a 16GB storage capacity, upgradable to 48GB via a microSD memory card. The device has a micro-USB port, which supports charging, allows the phone to act as a storage device and enables it to connect to a HDTV.

Nokia has ditched the QWERTY keyboard with the N8, favouring a full 3.5in (640 x 360 pixel) capacitive touchscreen instead. The touchscreen itself is pleasantly responsive and the picture is bright and crisp. The inclusion of an accelerometer allows the phone to be used in both landscape and portrait views, as expected.

From a business perspective it is possible to see the N8 challenging the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and even the iPhone 4. The Nokia is able to multitask efficiently as it is powered by a dual-core processor. It is also possible to sync multiple email accounts and search or filter mail as you would on a computer.

However, Esa Alonen, the N8 product manager, repeatedly referred to the phone as an "entertainment superstar" and his demonstration somewhat backed up this claim.

When plugged into an HDTV, the N8's Symbian 3 OS, allowed the phone's UI to be easily navigated with images, music and emails transferred seamlessly to the TV as the phone acted as an entertainment centre.

Nokia also announced the N8 will come with access to Nokia's "Comes with Music" service in some markets. This will allows users access to a growing catalogue, which presently includes nine million songs, however, it was unconfirmed whether the UK will be one of these "selected markets".

One of the most impressive features demonstrated was the 12 megapixel camera. Alonen claimed that this is the "best camera in a phone" because it has the biggest sensors, enabling it to capture the most light.

The camera is also capable of recording in 720p HD content and two dedicated speakers allow "greater ambience and cut out wind noise". The playback of HD video was particularly impressive.

As an extra, Nokia will include free maps and voice guided navigation for 70 countries, which it said can be worth up to €200 (£166). The phone also supports Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound, which is very handy when watching movies from the phone on a larger screen.

While the device is a huge step in the right direction, it will struggle on its own to help Nokia claw back the ground it has lost to rivals such as Apple and Samsung in the smartphone market.

The N8 has the makings of a very good smartphone but the lack of a firm release date could be Nokia's undoing.

Alonen made it clear that the product will be released when "it is ready" and Q3 2010 has been pencilled in. However, in a fast moving market, it is almost certain that by the time the N8 is released, it will be competing with several other devices with similar or better specifications.

Nokia did suggest that it may be available on contract for £25 to £30. An aggressive pricing strategy could be one way in which to broaden its appeal.

14 Jun 2010