Nokia unveils N9 ‘all-screen’ phone

New N9 phone, the long-awaited successor to Nokia’s N8, is finally unveiled in Singapore – but no sign of new Windows Phone handsets yet

Nokai's new N9 handset

Troubled smartphone giant Nokia has unveiled a range of new handsets including the company’s new flagship device, the N9. Featuring an ‘all-screen’ design, the phone replaces a home button with a universal ‘swipe’ gesture that takes users back to the devices main screen from wherever they are in its operating system.

Marko Ahtisaari, Nokia's head of Design, said, “The details that make the Nokia N9 unique - the industrial design, the all-screen user experience, and the expressive Qt framework for developers - will evolve in future Nokia products."

The company, has not yet, however, demonstrated any of the long-awaited Windows Phone handsets that it says it will release by the end of the year. Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop said “Earlier this year, we outlined a comprehensive strategy to change our course. Innovation is at the heart of our strategy, and today we took important steps to demonstrate a new pace of innovation at Nokia. It's the beginning of a new era for Nokia."

Earlier this month Nokia announced significantly reduced profits and operating margins, which sent its share prices further down.

The company also released affordable models called the C2-02, C2-03 and C2-06 using Symbian Series 40. They included dual and single-sim options, which are popular in emerging markets where Nokia is still hugely popular, and both touch screen and keypad options. They are also the first Nokia handset to feature mapping with Symbian Series 40, which the company hopes will also appeal to customers in the developing world.