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Nokia begins shipping N900 Maemo mobile computer

Nokia's N900 mobile computer, which runs the Linux-based Maemo operating system, has begun shipping to customers.

Featuring a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a slide-out Qwerty keyboard, rapid web browsing and access to Ovi, the telecoms giant's online mobile app store, the N900 is intended to mobilise the desktop computing experience.

Jose-Luis Martinez, vice-president of Nokia Nseries, says pre-orders for the device show it "has generated a lot of interest" since its public launch in August.

"What's exciting is the Maemo software, which takes its cues from the desktop computer and offers a full browsing experience like no other handset," he adds. "We believe the Nokia N900 will be a very compelling device for people who are passionate about technology."

According to Martinez, the N900's powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor – and up to 1GB of total application memory – is "at the heart" of the device, enabling users to keep dozens of mobile app windows open simultaneously on the dashboard.

Furthermore, the device pulls in contacts from social networking sites like Facebook and "threads" email, text and chat conversations by person.

It will be available to customers for free on some networks, depending on an individual's contract and tariff.