If you still haven't figured out the trend of NSeries phones, where a N9x is followed by a N8x of the same category, this one should be obvious. When the N91 8GB was released, the N81 8GB followed after a while, and the same applies to the N95 8GB - N82 relationship, and it's once again happening between the N96 and N85.

I don't understand really why Nokia does it. The N85 is sort  of a flagship phone, just like the N96, but it targets the mid-high-end consumer, unlike the N96 which targets the high-high end consumer only. This pattern might be actually an economical reasoning, and then the phones are followed by a N7x?

Whatever are Nokia's patterns, we'll just speak about the phone itself now: The N85 doesn't bring anything new, but as other NSeries, it's a convergence focused device, and puts everything together. From the 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, to the 10 included NGage games with dedicated music buttons. You can also find the 3.5mm jack, HSDPA, built-in A-GPS, and WiFi. The only thing that is NEW is the 2.6" OLED display, and the inclusion of a 8GB microSD memory card. Nokia has decided to go for these displays not only because they waste less power, but because they have better quality as well.

You can include our opinion on the Nokia N79 here as well, for the strategy behind this phone, which will affect the Nokia N96's sales.

Press release and pictures after the jump. Do check out the promotion video, as well as the demo video. Jason Goh from Symbian Smashpop has been at the launch event, and had a hands-on moment with the device, check the video out.

Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N85, the latest Nokia Nseries multimedia computer made to set new standards for mobile entertainment, gaming and sharing. Along with an eye-catching 2.6" OLED screen and smooth, sleek finish, the Nokia N85 redefines the mobile experience. It boasts N-Gage gaming, music with in-built FM transmitter, 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and geotagging capabilities, three month integrated license for turn-by-turn voice navigation and high-speed connectivity, all in one device. The Nokia N85 is expected to begin shipping in October 2008 with an estimated retail price of EUR 450, before taxes and subsidies.

"The Nokia N85 was created to be more than the sum of its parts, offering a complete mobile entertainment package designed for connecting, sharing and discovering," said Juha-Pekka Sipponen, Director, Nokia Nseries. "The iconic Nokia Nseries dual slider design has evolved to become smaller and sleeker while integrating the newest features and services to deliver the best mobile experience to date."

With a strong lineup of multimedia features, the Nokia N85 is taking the world of mobile convergence to the next level. Gaming, photos, navigation and music blend together with the newest Ovi and third party services via 3.5G HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity to make discovering and sharing experiences quick and seamless.

Engage and interact
The Nokia N85 is pre-loaded with at least 10 made-for-mobile N-Gage gaming titles that jump off of the screen thanks to the dazzling OLED display and a voucher to activate one full game license. Dedicated gaming keys light up when the device is in landscape gaming mode to further enhance the action-packed experience.

A state-of-the-art 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and bright dual LED flash captures clear, sharp images as well as DVD-quality videos at 30 frames per second. Combined with A-GPS it is possible to geotag favorite pictures to see where each photo was taken using the Nokia Maps application or online sites such as Share on Ovi or Flickr.

Each Nokia N85 comes with an 8 GB microSD card, up to 30 hours of music playback time and its high-fidelity sound means favorite tracks can be enjoyed virtually anywhere. Build a personal music collection from the millions of tracks and playlists available from the Nokia Music Store or other online music vendors, or synchronize PC and mobile music libraries via USB cable. Alternatively, consumers can enjoy RDS radio or a wide selection of stations via the internet. The 3.5 mm audio jack makes connecting a top-quality headset simple and an in-built FM transmitter lets the Nokia N85 play wirelessly through a car or home stereo to really crank up the sound.

While it comes out of the box with a multitude of powerful functionality, the pre-loaded Nokia Download! application makes the Nokia N85 truly customizable by offering a wide range of bespoke content. This includes an outstanding selection of world-class branded entertainment content, the latest in mobile gaming and dynamic applications so users can really make their device their own.