Nokia’s new smartphone could be a phablet

Nokia plans to enter the phablet market later this year, according to a report from the Financial Times. Sources inside Nokia say that “several high-end smartphones” will launch in 2013. Apple and Samsung have dominated the smaller tablet market, with gadgets such as the iPad Mini and Galaxy Note II aggressively outselling Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 devices.

The sources say that the phone will be a combination of a tablet and a smartphone, affectionately dubbed the “phablet”. While phablets are nothing new, a Lumia branded superphone would be a first. The new breed of Lumia phones will launch in July and will come kitted-out with PureView technology, including a 41-megapixel camera with flash.

Other launches include a lighter version of the flagship Nokia smartphone, the Lumia 920. The newer Lumia 920 will run upgraded internals. Nokia is even considering the development of a cheaper version of the Lumia 920, in a move that seems to echo Apple’s decision to (possibly) launch an inexpensive iPhone.

Is this what Nokia needs to pull itself out of a turn-and-burn cycle? The Finnish mobile phone maker is said to be working very closely with mobile operators in order to push sales. In a bright move, Nokia will heavily promote its range of new feature phones and come up with “innovative new devices” in an attempt to choke the life from cheaper handset makers such as Alcatel and Huawei.

Analysts have called the Q1 2013 earning report for Nokia “make or break” as these are the numbers that show off the success or failure of its range of Windows Phone 8 devices. Sadly though, and according to preview reports, Nokia isn’t expected to report any positive earnings. Nokia is expected to announce that 4 to 6-million Lumia devices were sold Q1 2013. With exceptionally cheap smartphones rolling out on a daily basis, 7-inch tablets selling for under US$200, can Nokia’s new flagship phablet turn around the companies fortunes? We can expect hints to this answer and more, after today’s Nokia earning report.