Nokia Confirms Symbian Anna Software Update for Everyone by End of August

Nokia, writing on the company’s official Twitter account, confirms that the Symbian Anna software update will hit existing Symbian^3 phones by the end of August, though a more specific timeline was not given for the Nokia N8, E7, and C7 handsets. The company says that new smartphones shipping this month should come pre-loaded with the Symbian Anna update pre-installed, and that phones without the pre-loaded software will get Anna by the end of the following month.

Anna is the first major update to the Symbian^3 operating system and brings a number of enhancements and usability improvements to the mobile platform, including a full portrait-oriented QWERTY keyboard, enhanced web browsing, and new icons. After Symbian Anna, users will have Symbian Belle to look forward to.

The Twitter announcement comes on the heels of the availability date of Anna on the Nokia Conversations blog:

One of the most anticipated enhancements in Symbian Anna is split screen view while typing, so users can see their message thread. There is also virtual portrait QWERTY for quick, one handed typing. And the web browser is faster and easier to use, delivering quicker page loads and improved navigation.

Ovi Maps has been refreshed with simpler and quicker search, new public transportation routes and check-in to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare or local social networks. You can also share places via email and SMS, even with friends using non-Nokia phones.

Business users will benefit from instant messaging with Microsoft Communicator Mobile, email enhancements including full meeting request support, and true business grade security with hardware accelerated encryption. There is also easy and secure intranet access for people who want to get on their company intranet.

The social client has been improved as well. Now you can see people’s status updates in their contact card, as well as retweet and view your follower list in Twitter.

Nokia N8 users may have a special version of Anna for them as it was previously said that the N8 will benefit from some camera improvements as a result of Anna. The flagship photo-centric smartphone was launched with an impressively large image sensor, 12-megapixel camera, Carl Zeiss optics, mechanical shutter, and great 720p HD video recording capabilities.

Via: My Nokia Blog