Nokia begins shipments of 8 GB N95 model

Helsinki (Finland) - Nokia today launched a new version of its N95 phone with an 8 GB hard drive, matching the internal capacity of the iPhone.

The European phone launch comes just as the continent prepares for Apple’s flagship handheld, which has already sold over a million units in the US.

According to Nokia, the new model also has improved battery life. The current top-end consumer phone from the Finnish giant, the N95 has built-in GPS technology and a five megapixel digital camera.

The standalone price is set at 560 euros, which can be discounted with service contract subsidies. The older version of the N95 is available in the US, but Nokia did not whether or when the new model will come out stateside.