Nokia today stepped up its defence of the mobile market, launching a new range of handsets and an online music store in an attempt to counter the threat posed by Apple’s iPhone. The Nokia Music Store will be accessible through a new mobile internet portal dubbed Ovi and will compete head-on with Apple’s iTunes, the dominant force in online music. Nokia’s new online platform, which will also offer games and mobile mapping tools, is expected to launch in the UK in the autumn.

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For all the boom box junkies from the 80’s you’re going to love the MD-7W. Walking around pumping your tunes wirelessly will be sure to impress the ladies or make them running in the opposite direction, depends on your collection. 130 Euros.

Last is the most impressive device, something that I’m sure will sell by the ton and something I can’t wait to see the Chinese copy, the Power Pack DC-1. It is simply a 105 Euro 2800 mAh battery that can charge your Nokia devices that use the new standard 2.0 mm charger plug. I’m still waiting for the Multimedia and Enterprise guys to adopt a one cable to rule them all strategy like the Mobile Phones group. Good things should come after the reorg in 2008.

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Time to pimp your ride as mobile manufacturer giant Nokia has launched Nokia 500 Auto Navigation, its first handsfree personal navigation device. This further supports the forecast we’ve covered last May that personal navigation is the next the big thing in the mobile industry.

“The Nokia 500 Auto Navigation is an expansion of our extensive enhancements portfolio. Our solutions are tightly integrated with our mobile devices, allowing users to enjoy quality handsfree communication with their phonebook, music and competitive navigation,” said Nokia Automotive director Marcus Stahl, in a

A more exciting part of this whole personal navigation domination is that established GPS companies like TomTom and Garmin are currently developing mobile phones with GPS devices.

ESPOO, Finland, August 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Nokia , the world leader in mobile communications, announced today that they are teaming up with Vivendi Games Mobile, a division of Vivendi Games, to bring the legendary Crash Bandicoot (R) franchise to Nokia’s new N-Gage mobile gaming platform launching this fall.

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The New Jersey teen who hacked the iPhone is going to get his wish – well, at least one of them.

George Hotz, who last week found a way to manipulate Apple’s new cell phone so that it will work on other networks besides AT&T’s, is trading one of the two phones he hacked for a new car. And, as Hotz would put it, it’s a “sweet” one at that, a new Nissan 350Z.

“This has been a great end to a great summer,” Hotz wrote on his blog.

The teen said he is trading the iPhone to Terry Daidone, co-founder of CertiCell, a Louisville, Ky.-based mobile phone repair company. In exchange, Daidone is going to buy him the car and will give him three brand new iPhones, which Hotz plans to hand out to members of his informal team that helped crack the iPhone.

As part of the deal, Hotz will have a paid consulting job for CertiCell. He plans to visit the company’s Kentucky offices later this week to demonstrate his iPhone hack in person.

Daidone and other CertiCell officials did not return calls seeking comment, but the company’s Web site confirmed the consulting deal.

Hotz initially tried to sell the iPhone on eBay, but said he ended the auction after it received multiple bogus bids.

Instead, he solicited a deal through his blog, which is how he hooked up with Daidone. Now he’s eagerly awaiting his new car.

“I have it in writing,” he said. “It’s all signed and good.”