facebook rss twitter

Nokia Windows RT tablet rumours surface again

by Mark Tyson on 19 December 2012, 11:00

Tags: Nokia (NYSE:NOK), PC

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qabqkz

Add to My Vault: x

There have been quite a few previous rumours about a Nokia tablet being on the drawing board or even further along towards the production line. Now a new morsel of information from Taiwan’s DigiTimes is suggesting such a device is likely to be unveiled by Nokia “at the 2013 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, during February 25-28, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers”.

The DigiTimes says that a Qualcomm S4 powered 10-inch Nokia Lumia Pad was scheduled for Q1 2012 but decided against upon the company learning of Microsoft’s Surface project. An order with Compal to produce 200,000 test units was therefore shelved. Since that time Nokia has been waiting for Microsoft to demonstrate that the Windows RT tablet market is profitable.

Though the DigiTimes suggests the Nokia tablet unveiling at the MWC 2013, Spain is “likely” it also concedes that according to its sources “As the sales performance for Windows RT tablets has so far been short of expectations, Nokia is evaluating ordered volumes and has not yet decided on its marketing plans”.

Uniquely Nokia

It would be interesting to see what Nokia could offer to differentiate its tablet from the Microsoft Surface RT and competitors in the general tablet arena. In April Nokia CEO Stephen Elop said that “There are now over 200 different tablets on the marketplace, only one of them is doing really well. And, my challenge to the team is I don't wanna be the 201st tablet on the market that you can't tell from all of the others.” He went on to say that a new device must take a “uniquely Nokia prospective” and differentiate itself “relative to everything else that's going on in the market”. That sounds very prudent and like good business strategy. I am looking forward to the reveal at MWC but we shall probably see earlier leaks if these latest rumours are true.



HEXUS Forums :: 8 Comments

Login with Forum Account

Don't have an account? Register today!
tbh I wish someone would hurry up and make a 7" 1280x800 WinRT/Win8 tab for ~ £200. Then we'd actually have some interesting competition for the Nexus 7 ;)
I was at an event in London last week and there wasa Nokia rep that had told one of the exhibitors there about the tablet but he'd had to sign an NDA so couldn't tell me anything concrete other than something impressive was just round the corner, so keeping a very close eye out next month :)
scaryjim
tbh I wish someone would hurry up and make a 7" 1280x800 WinRT/Win8 tab for ~ £200. Then we'd actually have some interesting competition for the Nexus 7 ;)

<£300 against the iPad Mini would be a good start, there is scope for a slightly higher sale price given that Windows RT is demonstrably more actually useful (certainly so out of the box without additional app purchases) rather than being consumption oriented like Android and iOS.

The 32GB Nexus 7 hardware slightly adapted for RT would do nicely - Asus, you listening?
scaryjim
tbh I wish someone would hurry up and make a 7" 1280x800 WinRT/Win8 tab for ~ £200. Then we'd actually have some interesting competition for the Nexus 7 ;)
You have to realise that it would be almost impossible to make it any good at that price as unlike android or iOS, the manufacturer would have to pay Microsoft for the OS too.
Like Kingpotnoodle said, £300ish sounds good
scaryjim
tbh I wish someone would hurry up and make a 7" 1280x800 WinRT/Win8 tab for ~ £200. Then we'd actually have some interesting competition for the Nexus 7 ;)

… dont see that happening!

I know a lot of techy people and no-one with RT or any interest in RT. Everyone either wants an iPad or a Nexus.

Still cant see any appeal myself tbh. Im waiting for a decent high res 10" tab with a pen.