Nokia Mulls Netbook

Microsoft (MSFT) is prepping a slimmed down version of the forthcoming Windows 7 operating system to work on so-called netbooks. Asustek is mulling a mini-laptop that runs on Google’s (GOOG) Android OS. Now, Nokia (NOK) is looking with interest at the netbook market as well.

“…the PC and the mobile will continue to come closer and merge,” Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo said at a press conference in New Dehli. “A lot of opportunity can be seen in this converged area. We at Nokia is actively looking at this converged market….We are looking at the netbook market to see what kind of opportunity is there.”

Likely a decent one for a cellphone maker like Nokia looking to diversify a bit from its core business. The company’s Symbian smartphone platform could likely be optimized for the task were Nokia to bring some of its $6 billion R&D budget to bear on it. The OS already has a Microsoft-compatible office suite in MobiSystems OfficeSuite 4, so Nokia’s ahead of the game there. Question is: Might the company’s efforts be better directed toward developing a credible competitor to Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone?

Mark Newton

Hmm. Good thinking Nokia. You’ll spend a fair chunk of your $6 billion developing yet another netbook in order to participate in a bottom-feeder’s market where you’ll make, what, $20 bucks per device sold?

This just underscores your status as a Dodo.

Having lazily milked the dumbphone business for years, you have been caught napping by Apple and Rimm. Who knew Symbian could become irrelevant so quickly?

Do you really plan to offset your dwindling legacy mobile sales by diversifying into “me too” commodity netbooks, relying on Microsoft to provide a pared-down desktop OS to run on them? Don’t you realize that’s the same Microsoft who’s Windows Mobile platform isn’t going to support touchscreen devices until October of 2010?

Surely you should focus your resources on defending your position as the #1 handset manufacturer in the mobile world. No, it sounds like you’ve given up that battle already.

%$#@!
David Owens

Question is: Might the company’s efforts be better directed toward developing a credible competitor to Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone?

Haven’t these fish eaters been trying to do just that for years? and failing miserably?

Nokia Mulls Netbook

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