Nokia uses Linux in tablet/phone hybrid N900
Nokia is to sell its first smartphone running Linux. The firm believes it will make it easier for users to install and use applications, but says it wasn’t developed as an iPhone challenger.
To date the company has concentrated on Symbian, an operating system designed specifically for cellphones. It believes it can use Linux to give more of a computer-like experience, appealing to those who want more advanced features and apps at their fingertips.
The new handset, the N900, was developed more by slimming down Internet tablets than bulking up mobile phones. It’s certainly got the hardware to take full advantage of the Linux possibilities with 1GB of memory for running applications, 32GB storage space, and 800×480 pixel display, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 5 megapixel camera with flash. Those all hold up well in comparison to the major rivals in the high-end consumer market. Throw in a Mozilla-based browser with Adobe Flash and you’ve got a pretty sweet bit of kit.
Nokia has good reason to target high-end devices. While its overall share of handset sales has held steady in the past few years, it’s seen a massive drop in the share of total spending. That’s partly because its average prices have dropped more quickly than those of rivals, and partly because consumers have become more willing to buy expensive rival devices such as the iPhone.
The big drawback at the moment is that, while the firm is hyping Linux as a great way to run applications (particularly running multiple apps at once), there’s no sign of an app store. While finding and installing apps shouldn’t be particularly technical difficult, experience has shown the general public are much more comfortable with the ease and reliability of using a catalog for picking and installing apps.
The N900 will initially launch in Europe with a list price of 500 euros (just over US$700), though customers will likely get significant discounts thanks to carrier subsidies.
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