Samsung will this evening host an event to mark the official launch of its long-awaited Omnia device, a touchscreen smartphone similar in look and feel to the Apple iPhone.

The Omnia features an on-screen Qwerty keypad and intuitive drag-and-drop functionality similar to the iPhone.

It also offers a 3.2" screen, push email, and full internet browsing in portrait or landscape views depending on which way up the phone is held. Storage capacity is up to 16GB.

Unlike the iPhone, however, the Omnia uses Windows Mobile and runs Microsoft Office Suites. It also includes a 5-megapixel camera.

"The Omnia is more than an entertainment device - it's a powerful business tool that matches that of your PC," said Samsung UK general manager Derek Williamson.