Nokia plans Android netbook for 2010

“We have confirmed that Nokia is planning to enter the netbook market,” wrote Lazard Capital Markets analyst Daniel Amir in a research note published Friday morning.

Amir says Nokia’s laptop will be “a Google Android, ARM-based notebook that would be sold at carriers.” That means it’ll be about the same size and shape as the Asus netbook shown above. Nokia’s netbook will be sold as a trade-up for customers who find their smartphone keyboard and screen too small but who want the it-just-works wireless access of a smartphone. If the iPhone is a Mac nano for your pocket, Nokia’s notebook will be sort of an N97 XL.

The trick seems to be that Nokia will get wireless carriers to sell the netbook at phone stores as a turnkey Internet access device that allows buyers to live online wherever they go. It’ll be like buying a Verizon PC cellular card with the PC already attached. Buyers, instead of having to research what parts and plans work with whatever computer they have, will be able to buy an all-in-one solution with confidence.

A recent survey found that 60 percent of netbook users never take the thing out of the house, but don’t make too much of that stat. How many people drive their SUV off the road? For consumers, some functionality needs to be there, even if they never use it.

[Photo from Newegg]