Nokia Leaving Maemo’s Tablet Roots Behind with N900 Phone

Nokia is preparing to launch the N900, a new mobile device built on the company’s Linux-based Maemo operating system. Although the N900 is the technical and spiritual successor of Nokia’s Internet Tablet products, it deviates substantially from its tablet roots and offers capabilities that push it into the smartphone market. This is an important transitional step in Nokia’s long-term roadmap for Maemo.

At the Maemo Summit last week in Amsterdam, Nokia’s Maemo devices vice president Ari Jaaksi provided insight into where the N900 fits in Nokia’s Linux strategy and explained how the transition from tablet to smartphone will help boost the product’s mainstream appeal…