Nokia said Tuesday that its first netbook will go on sale in the U.S. next month for $300, as the cellphone maker aims for a big holiday push.
Best Buy will sell the mini-personal computer, dubbed the Nokia Booklet 3G, starting in mid-November. The consumer-electronics company will be its exclusive retailer through the holiday season, said Barry Judge, marketing chief at Best Buy, during a launch event in New York.
The Nokia Booklet comes in black, azure blue and “ice,” and its features include Microsoft’s new Windows 7 operating system, a 12-hour battery and “silent” operation due to its lack of a noisy internal fan.Its price tag includes a two-year contract with AT&T, which provides its network connectivity. A carrier-free option, similar to an unlocked iPhone, is available for $600.
The carrier has inked several deals outside of the telecommunications space in recent months, including electronic readers and GPS devices. Computers such as the Nokia netbook represent an even larger revenue opportunity, said Glenn Lurie, head of AT&T’s emerging devices unit. It worked with Nokia for nearly a year on the device, he added.
Nokia first showed the netbook in September, saying at the time that such a device was a natural step toward growing its mobile-services business. The company faces ongoing competition from other manufacturers, such as Research In Motion and Samsung, as well as newer players like Apple.
