Nokia is reportedly prepping an ARM-powered tablet PC for a fourth quarter launch.
According to DigiTimes, Nokia has already designed over 100 engineering samples which are now ready for testing.
“The tablet PC’s panel size will be either 7- or 9-inch and manufactured by Foxconn International Holdings (FIH), the Hong Kong-listed handset subsidiary of Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry),” claimed
Joseph Tsai.
“Nokia will likely adopt Meego as the operating system and believes the company will work with its telecom carrier partners for sales.”
However, Engadget’s Thomas Ricker expressed some skepticism over the report.
“While DigiTimes has been known to get a rumor correct now and again, its success rate falls off dramatically when dealing with companies HQ’d outside of its native Taiwan,” opined Ricker.
“[The publication] has been rumoring an ARM-based smartbook from Nokia due in mid 2010 for almost a year. And guess what? It’s mid 2010, with smartbooks/netbooks now out of style and tablets all the rage…[Plus], we’d have thought Nokia would be more likely to opt for Intel’s Moorestown in support of their partnership given the Q4 timing.”
