Samsung is set to launch the UK's first 8-megapixel cameraphone when it releases its high-powered i8510 smartphone in early September.

The i8510, which will go on sale in the UK at The Carphone Warehouse, has a heavyweight lineup of multimedia features, cutting edge mobile connectivity, and smartphone functionality. Alongside Its headline-grabbing 8-megapixel camera, the i8510 has built-in A-GPS satellite navigation technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, 8GB of internal memory, and is built on the Symbian OS V9.3 S60 V3.2 smartphone platform.

The i8510, which has been released globally as the Innov8, is also an HSDPA-enabled 3G and quad-band GSM/EDGE device, capable of mobile data download speeds and browsing at up to 7.2Mbps (depending on network capability).

The 8-megapixel camera is equipped with autofocus and a dual LED flash, and comes with a wide range of Samsung software options to improve shooting, including face detection, smile shot, Wide Dynamic Range, and image stabiliser.

Images can also be 'geo-tagged' automatically - with precise location information embedded in image files - using the onboard A-GPS technology. A-GPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) applications can be used for a variety of location based services, including step-by-step satellite navigation, route planning and local information searches. 

Video calling is supported on the i8510, with a secondary front facing camera, and the i8510 offers smooth video capture at VGA quality at 30 frames per second, or 120 fps at QVGA quality (for slow motion playback). There are video and image editing applications included too. The i8510's video player app also supports playback of multiple formats, including WMV, Real Player, MPEG4 and DivX files, and features 3D surround sound-style audio with its dual speakers.

Imaging and web browsing is enhanced by a large 2.8-inch QVGA, 16 million colour display, which uses accelerometer technology for automatic page orientation between landscape and portrait mode, depending how the phone is being held.

As well as quality imaging, the i8510 is also geared up for music player duties, with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack enabling regular earphones to be used with handset. There's MicroSDHC card support to go with the 8GB of internal storage - cards of up to 16GB capacity can be used with the i8510. An FM radio with RDS is also included.

The i8510 has a full web browser onboard, featuring an optical mouse page navigation tool, and has support for 3D games - two of which (FIFA2008 and Asphalt 4 3D) are embedded.

Measuring up at 106.5(h) x 53.9(w) x 17.2(d)mm, the i8510 is no slimline phone, though it is slightly slimmer than the Nokia N95 8GB. Samsung estimates the i8510's 1200mAh battery will offer standby times of up to 330 hours on 3G networks or 310 in GSM coverage, or up to 5 hours talktime on 3G or 8.5 hours on GSM networks.

Pricing details for the Samsung i8510 have still to be confirmed.