The big wireless carriers are usually the gatekeepers for services and applications, but Nokia is taking more control of the user experience with Ovi, the company's new Internet services brand name. Ovi will give users access to the new Nokia Music Store, which houses millions of high-quality (192 Kbps) WMA tracks, which are available for over-the-air or desktop downloads.

 

And then there's the return of N-Gage as a service, where gamers can try and buy games like FIFA 08, The Sims 2 Pets, Tetris, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, as well as battle it out in the N-Gage arena with other players. Also under the Ovi umbrella is Nokia Maps, a navigation service that offers maps, city guides, and more directly compatible mobile devices.

 

Nokia also announced four new handsets that will be optimized for Ovi. Although no carriers are attached to these phones, you should be able to purchase all of these models unlocked.

 

Nokia N95 8GB/North American Version
The Nokia N95 will get a North American launch version as well as an updated 8GB version. The North American version will sport the same specs as previous N95 models, including a five-megapixel camera, built-in GPS, and Wi-Fi, but it will now feature HSDPA data for true 3G speeds. The updated 8GB version will retain the original N95's key features and sport a larger 2.8-inch QVGA display and 8GB of internal memory.

N95 8GB; Available Q4; $750
N95 NAV; Available Fall; $699

 

Nokia N81
The N81 is the multimedia maestro, complete with music and gaming keys, a 3.5mm headphone jack, 3G data, and Wi-Fi. It sports a slick, polished surface and a 3D multimedia menu. With up to 8GB of memory, there's plenty of room to store purchased music and games from the Nokia Music Store and N-Gage service.
Available Q4; $600 (8GB), $500 (microSD)

 

Nokia 5310 XpressMusic
The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone blends features and looks in a compact package that includes a 4GB microSD Card slot for up to 3,000 songs. You'll also get dedicated music keys, a 2-MP camera, and a bright two-inch QVGA screen. The 18 hours of music playback isn't shabby, either.
Available before end of year; $300

 

Nokia 5610 XpressMusic
The Nokia 5610 XpressMusic slider is beefier but offers a sharper 3.2-MP camera and a larger 2.2-inch display. This 3G handset sports aluminum side panels, a 4GB microSD slot for up to 3,000 songs, and a whopping 22 hours of music playback.
Available Q1 2008; $400