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Anyone who likes touchscreen phones should be excited; the most well known face in the game has waded in with not one, but TWO mobile phones: the sleek Nokia 5800 and the unbelievably awesome Nokia N97.

Evolution in action – early Nokia touchscreen phones

Many people seem to be under the incorrect assumption that the Nokia 5800 is the first touchscreen mobile phone Nokia have ever made. It’s not. Actually, there have been several touchy-feely phones released under the Nokia brand. Starting with the 7700, the world has seen a couple of Nokia mobile phones that are controlled by you prodding and poking the screen. They had a relatively big (for the time) touchscreen in common, but unfortunately, they shared something else: they were unbearably rubbish. Only one of these devices, the 6708, showed any promise, but that was made solely for the Chinese market, and so, we never got to play with them in the UK. The mobile phones WE got were, and I use this phrase with much feeling, total, and complete garbage.

However, these unpleasant memories have all been removed by the launch of a pair of new Nokia mobile phones, both of which have touchscreens, and both of which are so much nicer…

Nokia 5800 – raw gorgeousness

First on the list is a totally new entrant into Nokia’s Xpress family of music mobile phones, the gorgeous Nokia 5800. This one’s very obviously built for music and media, as it has a dedicated XpressMedia button which brings up a list of links to music, videos, the web, and more. Then, of course, the Nokia 5800 has a 3.2 inch touch-sensitive display, to actually play with all your media content. Essentially, the Nokia 5800 was created to be a teeny handheld entertainment centre, and as music handsets go, this is easily one of the sexiest. The Nokia 5800 also has, built-in, a 3 megapixel camera, HSDPA internet connection and sat-nav, making it a superb all-rounder, as well as a wonderful media box. Oh, and it has a strap to attach an imitation guitar pick. That rocks.

Despite all those features, the Nokia 5800 is very definitely a mid-range phone; it isn’t, nor was it ever meant to be, an absolute top-ender. That job goes to a separate handset…

Nokia N97 – phenomenal cosmic power

With the Nokia 5800 on course to bring touchscreen mobile phones to the mid-range market, that opens up a great big gap at the absolute top-end, and yes, there IS a touchscreen mobile phone waiting to be unleashed to take its place as the top-end powerhouse: the frankly mind-blowing Nokia N97. This uses the same Symbian S60 Touch interface and crams it into the shell of a proper, full-tilt smartphone. So it’s got an even more huge, 3.5 inch screen, a flip out QWERTY keyboard, and the camera now weighs in at a meaty 5 megapixels. The Nokia N97 is, obviously, destined to be the new flagship Nseries mobile phone, and it really is as powerful as the rumours had us believe, with HSDPA, GPS, digital compass, and integrated Flash, meaning you get an internet experience like no other mobile phones! Put it like this: the Nokia N97 is simple incredible. It gleefully relieves itself over other mobile phones and while the Nokia 5800 angles firmly for the mid-range, I’m predicting that the Nokia N97 will completely DOMINATE the world next year!

While DSL and cable Internet connections are well established in the market, satellite Internet is a relative newcomer to the field.  What is satellite Internet?  Who can make use of this technology? Who stands to benefit the most from this advent?  Actually, satellite Internet technology has benefits for almost anyone – if you need Internet access and all the benefits of broadband technology, then this solution can fit your needs quite well.

Rural Residents – Consumers living in rural and remote areas have had to rely on dialup technology for a very long time, in order to even check their email.  However, satellite Internet can provide these consumers with the broadband connection they’ve been craving.  With speeds comparable to DSL or cable Internet, satellite technology provides consumers with the ability to surf the web and enjoy all the benefits of Web 2.0 technology, such as streaming video and music.

No longer limited by their meager bandwidth allotment, rural residents can now join the rest of the world in the enjoyment of the Internet.  If you live in such an outlying area, you can save time and even save money by ditching your dialup account.

Businesses – Businesses of all stripes can make use of satellite Internet technology.  Many companies are stymied in communicating with outlying and remote offices.  Phone and fax technology can only provide so many benefits.  However, with satellite Internet technology, these offices can now be connected to the larger network of the businesses, ensuring that communications and files are delivered with broadband speeds.

Other businesses can make use of satellite Internet for their customers’ benefit.  For instance, auto dealerships are installing computer kiosks in ever-increasing numbers.  These kiosks offer convenience and entertainment for their customers during their wait for service.  As many of these dealerships already have satellite TV, the addition of satellite Internet makes plenty of sense and helps enhance the customers’ experience, as well.

Those Interested In Saving Money – One problem with having DSL is the fact that you have to have a landline in order to make use of it.  However, many people are no longer using landlines (just ask any college student).  Rather, they are making use of their cell phones in order to save money on long distance access and enjoy better convenience. By using satellite Internet, consumers can get rid of their landline completely.  This helps ensure better savings and can provide better convenience, especially when the Internet service is bundled with satellite TV (which you might already have).

Obviously, satellite Internet technology has much to offer and it can be applied to an incredibly wide range of consumers and businesses.  Installation is simple and often discounted or even free; when you opt to bundle your Internet access with satellite TV, you are usually able to enjoy even more discounts. Of course, in order to enjoy the benefits of satellite Internet, you will have to have a clear view of the southern sky, as well as a satellite dish and a satellite Internet modem.