In the past, I’ve criticized the Nokia Internet Tablet platform as a nice device but one of limited use. Essentially, the product has evolved as a Mobile Internet Device that relied on Wi-Fi or a supplemental smartphone for its connectivity. That constraint may be a thing of the past, based on reported specifications for a next-generation device dubbed the N900. CellPassion alleges this to be a picture of the device.
Here’s the gist of the specs (all believable in my opinion) making their way around the web, courtesy of BGR:
- Maemo 5
- Dimensions: 59.7mm x 111mm x 18.2mm
- Weight: 180g
- 3.5-inch 800×480 (WVGA) touchscreen
- OMAP3430 500/600 Mhz processor
- 5.0 MP Carl Zeiss camera with dual-LED flash, auto-focus and sliding cover
- 1GB total virtual runtime memory
- Wi-Fi, HSPA, GPS, accelerometer
In addition to these features, MobileCrunch says that the device will support T-Mobile’s voice network. If that’s the case, the N900 becomes far more compelling, because it won’t require carrying an additional device, i.e., a phone. The device is roughly the size of Nokia’s N97 handset, which is expected to launch next week. Ideally, a subsidy deal with T-Mobile USA would offset the cost of the N900, keeping the price to $299 or less.
I’m still not sold on the idea of yet another mobile device platform, but this all has me thinking about Nokia’s long-term operating system plans. If Maemo runs well, is intuitive to the user, and can support a vast array of applications, maybe Symbian 60 gets relegated to inexpensive feature-phones?

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