It might be among the first ARM-based Windows 8 devices

Mar 12, 2012 10:35 GMT  ·  By

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia is getting ready for the release of a tablet PC running under Microsoft’s new Windows 8 platform, and might have it launched before the end of this year.

Some of the latest reports around the web suggest that the mobile phone maker could release the device in the fourth quarter of the year. However, no specific details on the launch date have emerged until now.

The upcoming device should hit the market with a dual-core Qualcomm SoC inside, and is expected to feature a 10-inch touchscreen display.

According to a recent article on DigiTimes, the fourth quarter of the current year is the earliest timeframe Nokia would have the said device available for purchase.

This comes in line with Microsoft’s supposed launch timeframe for the next-generation operating system.

Windows 8, currently available for a free download as a Consumer Preview, is expected to hit full release status sometime in the last quarter of the year, most probably in October.

When released, the platform will be loaded on touch-enabled devices too, including tablet PCs that feature x86 or ARM application processors.

Apparently, Nokia too has teamed with both Microsoft and Qualcomm to have its own such device available for purchase, and it might unveil the tablet as soon as Windows 8 is officially launched in a final flavor.

Sources familiar with the matter claim that the company will outsource the production of 10-inch tablets to Compal Electronics, and that it already expects initial shipments of over 200,000 units.

Nokia’s WoA (Windows on ARM) device will certainly help Microsoft’s plans to gain market share on the tablet segment, where Android and iOS are the current leaders.

For the time being, nothing has been confirmed on the said Nokia tablet PC. However, this is not the first time we hear rumors on it and, given the tight relationship between the Finnish vendor and Microsoft in the smartphone area, we would not be surprised at all if the formal announcement is made soon.