Nokia netbooks to run Android, due in 2010?
updated 04:05 pm EDT, Fri June 26, 2009
Android in Nokia netbooks
The most recent unofficial report regarding a rumored Nokia netbook has it being released in 2010 and using the open-source Android operating system from Google. According to Lazard Capital Markets analyst Daniel Amir, Nokia will sell the devices via wireless carriers, like it currently does with its cellular phones. In a research note issued on Friday morning, Amir said conversations with device manufacturers have confirmed this information, though he expects Nokia will face stiff competition from the established PC makers in the class.
Nokia has also partnered with Intel, with the possibility of its netbooks being powered by the Atom CPU which dominates the netbook category. Thus far, though, the collaboration is expected to net smaller gadgets than netbooks, in the vein of Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs).
Selling the netbooks and MIDs with subsidies from carriers in exchange for a data contract may make the Nokia devices more appealing to customers in the face of established players already in the field. [via GigaOm]
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Not likely
Taking into account that Android is possible becoming the biggest threat to Nokia's Symbian-based phones and also a direct competitor to Nokia's own Linux platform Maemo, it is very unlikely that Nokia would start Android based notebook business.
Since making a Symbian notebook would be a mission impossible, if Nokia ever produces a notebook they will certainly choose Maemo for that.