Nokia has made its long rumoured move back into the PC market by confirming the launch of the Windows-based Nokia Booklet 3G, a 10.1-inch format PC powered by an Intel Atom processor and offering HSPA and Wi-Fi connectivity options for Internet access on the move.
Full details of the model, as well as market availability and pricing, will be revealed at the Nokia World conference next week in Barcelona.
So far the company has kept disclosures to a minimum.
What is has said today is that the newcomer weighs only 1.25 kilograms, measures only 2 centimetres deep, and will have up to 12 hours of battery life.
The mini-laptop comes with an HDMI port for HD video out, a front facing camera for video calling, integrated Bluetooth and an SD card reader, the company has also confirmed.
It is expected that the device will run the Windows 7 operating system.
The unit is styled on Apple’s family of aluminium-based MacBooks and includes a glass display capable of showing high-definition video, making it a higher-performance device than a stripped down netbook, the company said.
It comes with built-in access to suite of Ovi services and the Nokia Music Store, and will automatically synchronise data with a Nokia handset or to a Web-based storage service.
Nokia divested its desktop PC business back in the early 1990s and, as previously reported by CBR, its CEO stated at the start of this year that the mobile maker would be considering a manoeuvre into the laptop market.
Market-watchers consider the manufacturing know-how, procurement clout and supply chain expertise that is held by the Finnish business could position the vendor in a good position in the highly competitive segment. It is not known if the units will be manufactured by Nokia.
