Nokia World 2008 is taking place now in Barcelona, and there were a lot of significant announcements during the first day of the show.

For starters, there is a S60 5th Edition new mobile computer, the Nokia N97, which combines a large, bright 3.5" touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard in a very distinctive form factor. Use the Nokia N97 to connect to mobile broadband using WLAN or HSDPA (3.5G). Find directions and locations with the integrated A-GPS and included maps. Additional features include a 5 mega pixel camera with dual LED flash and automatic geotagging of images and videos.

• Watch a video demo of the Nokia N97. 

• View the device specifications for the Nokia N97.

• Read the product sheet for the Nokia N97. (PDF file)

At Nokia World there were also updates about Nokia Messaging, which mobilises consumer e-mail and consumer instant messaging (IM) solutions on Nokia devices. There was also news about the latest version of Nokia Maps, integrated with Ovi as a free service that allows people to pre-plan their journey at home on their PC and synchronise with their mobile device.

And last – but not least - Nokia today announced that it has completed its offer to acquire Symbian Limited, the software company that develops and licenses Symbian OS, the market-leading open operating system for mobile devices. Learn more about this significant news announcement.

Additionally, information about the planned Symbian Foundation can be found at www.symbianfoundation.org.

Watch presentations that took place during the first day at Nokia World.

And stay tuned for more updates tomorrow.

What do you think of the announcements coming out of Nokia World today? Let us know your thoughts and ideas. Continue the conversation with us now.