Nokia has opened its annual conference with the launch of probably its worst kept secret from recent months. No, we’re not talking about the Booklet 3G, but the N97 Mini.

Nokia N97 Mini: like the N97, only smaller

Pictures of the N97 Mini have popped up online all over the place in recent weeks. Now Nokia has confirmed that the scaled-down handset is real.

The N97 Mini packs an 8GB internal memory into its 14mm body, in addition to a 5Mp camera and dual-LED flash. Nokia has ditched the lens cover seen on the original N97.

Equipped with a 3.2in, 640 x 360 touchscreen, the N97 Mini will let you surf to Facebook through a dedicated application that also includes a geo-tagging feature. So, should you want to let your friends know exactly where you are at any given time of day, you’ll be able to.

Supports Wi-Fi, HSDPA and Bluetooth 2.0

Aside from having a smaller keyboard that the original N97, Nokia’s assured us that the Mini’s features are very similar to those of the original.

Nokia’s N97 Mini will be available from October, priced at roughly €450 (£396/$639). ®