Nokia just launched its N97 all-in-one smartphone, which integrates a touchscreen with a unique slide-and-tilt QWERTY keyboard.

Running on the venerable but aging Symbian Series 60 OS, the N97 is the device that aims to be all things to all people. Namely, an Internet phone, a multimedia player, a personal assistant and a pocket still and video camera as well as a gaming device using Nokia's N-gage architecture.

In Canada, the N97 is exclusive to Bell on its HSPA network, available in stores this weekend for $199.95 on a three-year contract with a minimum $50 voice and data plan, or $599.95 without a contract

Bell, which recently launched its first Android OS smartphone, seems to be launching a variety of HSPA handsets as fast as it can in time for the holiday buying season.

The Nokia N97 maintains a very compact and slim profile, especially for a smartphone with an integrated keyboard.

If offers a variety of widget applications for services from news, sports scores, online video and a variety of social networking services.

As a messaging phone, the N97 has one of the best keyboards in the market today with the likes of backlit keys that are clearly defined and have ample tactile feedback, making text messages, emails and Tweets a quick and breezy affair. Sadly, the on-screen virtual keyboard isn't as responsive those found on competing smartphones.

With 32GB of onboard memory plus the capability of expansion up to 48GB via MicroSD cards, Nokia has also packed in a batch of multimedia goodies. On top of the expected stereo Bluetooth capabilities, the N97 also packs a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and an LED flash, for example.

The N97 also offers Bell's Video Calling service, which uses the speed and coverage of the ultra spiffy HSPA network to send and receive video calls with other Bell users (with handsets that support the service, naturally).

As an internet phone, the N97 employs the Opera Mobile browser, which worked quickly and accurately, rendering websites quite well despites the comparatively tiny display screen. There is no toggle or scroll function for browsing, mind you, so the only means of navigating down pages is by making scrolling motions on the screen itself.

Additional features on the Nokia N97 include personalized home screens; access to Ovi Store (Nokia's version of iTunes) with an array of cool apps, downloadable games, ringtones, etc.; a built-in FM radio transmitter so you can play tunes on your car radio without wires; and an FM radio, among other things.

"The Nokia N97 is designed to fit the way people live, how they connect to the Internet and to each other," said Richard White, General Manager, Nokia Canada. "The Nokia N97 introduces leading technology for people to create a personal Internet experience and it's helping to transform 'the' Internet into 'your' Internet."

Photo credits: Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla