Nokia brings iPhone competitor to U.S., but will it come with music?

The handset is the first to feature version 5 of Nokia’s S60 user interface, the first release to support tactile feedback-based interfaces and advanced sensor technology. Announced concurrently with the 5800, the new software enables a range of new interactive options with the device, such as the ability to silence the phone’s ringer by turning it upside down.

Worldwide, Nokia still more than doubles it closest competitor, Samsung, capturing 40% of the market share in the second quarter, yet North America remains its smallest market in terms of units shipped, In the U.S., Nokia is focused mainly on low-to-mid range handsets. Its globally popular the Nseries smartphones have had little impact, in part because no operators carry them. As of yet, Nokia has not announced any operator partner to carry the XpressMusic phone next year.

According to Nokia vice president Jo Harlow, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone – priced at $386 unsubsidized at launch – is designed to connect people through the one thing there is a universal connection to – music. On the music front, the 5800 includes a graphic equalizer, 8GB memory for up to 6,000 tracks in all main digital music formats, a 3.5 mm jack and built-in surround sound speakers.