First Look: Nokia Linux-Based N900 Smartphone

Nokia on Thursday revealed plans to launch its first-ever high-end smartphone built on an open-source Linux platform. The Nokia N900 packs in Nokia's own Maemo 5 software, which the Finnish mobile device giant used in Internet tablets and is now bringing to cellular-enabled smartphones.

Running on the new Maemo 5 software, the Nokia N900 lets users have dozens of application windows open and running simultaneously while taking full advantage of the cellular features, touch-screen interface and a full, slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

The Linux-based Nokia N900 packs in an ARM Cortex-A8 processor, up to 1 GB of application memory and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration, which, according to Nokia, results in PC-like multitasking, allowing many applications to run simultaneously. Additionally, Nokia said, switching between applications on the N900 is simple, as all running content is constantly available through the dashboard. The N900 also features a panoramic home screen that can be personalized with a user's favorite shortcuts, widgets and applications.

"With Linux software, Mozilla-based browser technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile experience," said Nokia Executive Vice President Anssi Vanjoki in a statement. "The Nokia N900 shows where we are going with Maemo and we'll continue to work with the community to push the software forward. What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer."

For Web browsing, the Linux-based Nokia N900 packs in a Mozilla browser. It features a high-resolution WVGA touch screen and fast Internet connectivity with 10/2 HSPA and WLAN. The goal of the N900 is to make Web sites appear on the smartphone as they do on a PC. Additionally, the N900 with Maemo 5 software ties in full Adobe Flash 9.4 support for vivid online videos and interactive applications.

The Linux-based N900 and the Maemo software are not signs that Nokia is shying away from its Symbian operating system, Nokia said. Instead, Maemo complements other software platforms. Symbian is the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, controlling more than half of the global smartphone operating system market, beating out Apple, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) and Google combined.



"This is in no way putting Symbian in jeopardy," Nokia's Vanjoki told Reuters. "Open source Symbian is going to be our main platform, and we are expanding and growing it the best we can, both in terms of functionality as well as distribution."

Along with Maemo 5, the Nokia N900 smartphone features easy e-mail setup, letting users set up as many as 10 personal e-mail accounts with just a few screen touches. Additionally, text messages or IM exchanges with friends are shown in one view and all conversations are organized as separate windows.





The Nokia N900 also features 32 GB of storage, which is expandable up to 48 GB with a microSD card. It also ties in a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a new "tag cloud" user interface for photography.

Nokia said the Nokia N900 with Linux and Maemo 5 will be available in October for around 500 euro, or $712, before carrier subsidies. Specific carriers for the N900 have not yet been announced. Nokia is expected to offer more insight and detail into the N900 smartphone at Nokia World on Sept. 2 in Stuttgart, Germany.