Nokia say touchscreen iPhone clone coming 2008

Nokia may have announced four new phones and a digital music service today, however the company is already setting its sites on launching a touch screen iPhone killer complete with HSDPA next year.

Although details are thin on the ground, Nokia's CEO and President said: "A touch screen series 60 handset will be coming next year".

Images of the new handset, which looked virtually identical to the iPhone were shown off to a packed crowd of journalists at the company's Nokia: Go Play event this morning.

Judging from the pictures, the new model, which has yet to be given a name, will feature a touch screen, auto rotating landscape mode and focus on music like the company's N series.

"Nokia are proud to copy, if its something worth copying", the head of mobile at Nokia told a journalist in the Q and A session after similarities on the new handset and accompanying video where brought to his attention.

Nokia's head of Mobile Experiences refused to comment to Pocket-lint when questioned on the new product, but said that the phone was already in development.

"Our phones take around two years to develop from drawing board to in the shops", Juha Kokkonen said about the company's 5310 MusicXpress handset as he showed off its features.

The news is likely to be welcomed by Nokia fans around the world looking for an iPhone alternative with 3G connectivity.

We will keep you posted.