Nokia unveils the Nokia Lumia 800, its first ever Windows smartphone

Troubled Finnish phone maker Nokia has taken the covers off a brand new Windows handset in the shape of the Lumia 800, which company boss Stephen Elop has confidently described at the “first real Windows Phone.”

Speaking at this mornings Nokia World event in London, Elop was bold in his claims about what this smartphone can do and how it will boost the fortunes of Nokia and also give Microsoft a stronger foothold in the mobile marketplace.

The Nokia Lumia 800 is typically Nokia in design, with looks that resemble the N9, while inside the device there is Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, the latest version of the mobile operating system. You’ll also find a very respectable 1.4GHz processor, although it’s single processor only, 512MB of RAM and on the outside there’s a 3.7-inch 800x480 ClearBlack AMOLED display.

Nokia is known for the quality of its phone cameras and the eight-megapixel offering on this model doesn’t look like it will disappoint thanks to a Carl Zeiss lens, f/2.2 aperture for boosting low light performance, plus 720p video recording. Purchasers will also get themselves a bundled Nokia Drive app that delivers turn-by-turn navigation.

“We believe that the world is ready for something new,' said Elop. in front of the assembled media. “I am excited to introduce you to the Nokia Lumia 800, our first phone built on the Windows Phone platform - the first ever that embodies and complements the design of Windows Phone. Lumia is the first real Windows Phone.”

“Eight months ago, we shared our new strategy and today we are demonstrating clear progress of this strategy in action. We're driving innovation throughout our entire portfolio, from new smartphone experiences to ever smarter mobile phones,' added Elop.

UK networks are said to be gearing up for the release of the Nokia Lumia 800. Meanwhile, there is also a Nokia Lumia 710 that will be available at a lower price point than the beefier Lumia 800.