Power fault for Nokia's answer to iPhone

NOKIA admitted yesterday that its top N8 model, aimed at making up lost ground in the smart phone market, has had power problems, with some handsets not turning on after recharging.

The fault was limited to "a small number of handsets" and will be fixed in line with Nokia warranty rules, Nokia spokeswoman Eija-Riitta Huovinen said. She gave no details of whether the problem was regional or how many handsets were affected.

"We've had a lot of positive feedback about the N8. This problem involves really a small number," Huovinen said.

The N8, which looks like Apple's iPhone, features a 12-megapixel digital camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a 3.5 inch display. It has photo uploading connections to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

Available also in North America, Nokia's weakest market, the N8 was meant to compete with the iPhone, which has set the standard for today's smart phones, and Research In Motion's BlackBerry.

The N8 has been beset with problems. It was unveiled in April with deliveries expected in the summer but Nokia did not start shipping it internationally until the end of September.

The latest fault, though relatively small, comes at a bad time as the fourth quarter traditionally means strong growth in the industry.

"This doesn't help the Nokia brand, that's for sure," said Neil Mawston of London-based Strategy Analytics.