Nokia unveils Linux phone

The Finnish firm has dabbled with Linux since 2005 using it in ‘Internet tablets’ — sleek phone-like devices used to access the Web that have failed to gain mass-market appeal in part due to their lack of a cellular radio.

The new N900 model, with cellular connection, touch screen and slide-out keyboard, will retail for around 500 euros ($712), excluding subsidies and taxes.

Nokia said Linux would work well in parallel with Symbian in its high-end product range. The new model will use ARM’s Cortex-A8 processor.