Nokia Corporation (NOK) Launches New City Lens Tech

Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) is adding a new feature to its Nokia Maps application that is not only on the new Lumia handsets, but it also will be available on other versions of the top-of-the-line handset. After some beta work, the company announced that beginning Tuesday, Nokia was releasing its City Lens technology not only onto its new Lumia 820 and 920 handsets, but also is giving users of the 710, 800 and 900 models as well.

City Lens provides some real-time look at nearby attractions and locations through the phone’s camera. With GPS in the phone and Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) Maps feature, a user can use the camera to view surroundings, and City Lens would then have pp-ups in the display that show the user locations or key attractions that are nearby in different directions, according to whatever direction the phone is held. For example, a user can have the White House in view of the camera, and on the display would be some pop-ups that will point the directions of some landmarks as the Capitol building, the Supreme Court or the National Mall in relation to where you’re standing.

While City Lens will be automatically included on the Lumia 820 and 920 smartphones by Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK), with a couple of steps the older models – the 710, 800 and 900 models – will be able to upload the City Lens technology to add to their cameras and Nokia Maps application.

As it appears that Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) stumbled through its Lumia launch last week – with the markets having a tepid at best reaction due to a lack of certainty of release date, price or approved carriers – any little bit of news that might enhance these new handsets and give it some edge over the upcoming competition would likely be embraced. What do you think?