Nokia Atom Netbook Soon

The first fruits of the Intel-Nokia partnership could come within a matter of weeks, the Taiwan-area Commercial Times newspaper claimed today. Stating the rumor as fact, it insists that reports of Nokia netbooks are true and that a portable based on Intel Atom chips could come as soon as this summer. Its details aren't known, but Quanta would be contracted to build the computer.

Rather than build only one device in the class, though, the same newspaper believes that Nokia is making a product based on Qualcomm's smartbook concept and made by Compal. Both its release information and specs are unknown, but Qualcomm has previously said these systems would have screens between 10 and 12 inches across, 3G data with voice and a quick-booting Linux variant. Nokia already uses a heavily modified Linux OS known as Maemo, but it's unclear if this would be ported over.

Nokia has previously expressed an interest in netbooks but has never directly named any platform as a likely candidate. It has also characterized its deal with Intel as creating crossover handheld devices rather than full computers. [via IntoMobile]

By Electronista Staff