Nokia said on Monday it had started shipments of a new version of its top-of-the-range mobile phone model N95 with an 8 gigabyte memory and improved battery life.

The N95 8GB, which comes with integrated location mapping GPS chip and a 5 megapixel camera, is priced at 560 euros before taxes or subsidies, Nokia said in a statement.

The device has a black cover and comes witrh a 2.8 inch QVGA display and speakers. For the first time, full multimedia use of the two-way slide design and dedicated media keys allow users to control video on their mobile just as they would on DVD: play, pause, fast forward and rewind.

"The Nokia N95 8GB opens up a wealth of exciting options for film fans as they can now watch world-class movies like Spider-Man 3 whenever they want, wherever they want. Pre-loading a film with such fantastic special effects truly shows off the device's advanced capabilities. With its ground-breaking features, users can now fully appreciate the meaning of entertainment on-the-go," said Ilkka Raiskinen, Senior Vice President, Multimedia Experiences, Nokia.

The movie comes in ten languages and subtitle combinations. Part of the same range as the Nokia N95, the Nokia N95 8GB also includes a unique Spider-Man) 3 message and ring tone, wallpaper and screen saver, specially crafted for the new device.