Nokia gets into the Netbook game
Nokia has just announced that they will be entering the (some say) already overcrowded netbook market with their Booklet 3G. Netbooks are typically miniature laptops that have very ordinary specs and usually come with a 3G data connection built in. They are typically sold bundled with a 3G data plan on 24 month contracts and are a lucrative source of new revenue for the carriers. Recently Optus announced that the number of subscribers on their 3G network has risen 11% over the last quarter. The majority of this rise can be attributed to people buying Netbooks on contracts.
Many are questioning Nokia for making a move on a market that they see as already overcrowded. While it is true that there are a lot of players in this area, there is also a lot of room for growth with industry pundits forecasting huge growth figures. Others just see it as a move to beat Apple to the punch.
Whichever way you look at it the consumer can only be a winner. Far from just announcing some re-badged netbook the Nokia Booklet is full to the brim with Nokia’s software and services including: Maps, Music, the Ovi service (email, file sharing etc). Details are light on the tech specs but the unit is looking like one of the slimmest out there at less than 2 cms.
Nokia really best sums up why they made the move into netbooks:
“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility. We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”
Expect to see this baby out in Australia before the end of the year. Nokia will most likely team up with one of the big 3 (Vodafone, Optus or Telstra) to provide it on contract. I think we can expect a similar price to the current deals – around $60 a month over 24 months with included internet data.
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