Nokia Delays Launch Of Mobile Internet Device Until 4Q

STOCKHOLM -(Dow Jones)- Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia Corp. (NOK) Wednesday said it has delayed the launch of its wireless Web surfing device, 770 Internet Tablet, to the fourth quarter.

A spokeswoman declined to specify a revised launch date, but said the device would definitely be available before Christmas. "The finalization of the software took us a bit longer than we had expected," she said.

An upgrade of the delayed software will still happen in the first half of next year, as originally planned, she added.

This will add Voice-over Internet Protocol and an instant messaging service to the initial software, which supports Web browsing and e-mail, but not voice applications.

Nokia said in May that the pocket-sized device, which features a high-resolution widescreen display, would be available in the third quarter in selected countries in Europe and North America.

Users will be able to connect wirelessly to the Web via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies. The device runs on a software incorporating Linux and Open Source technologies.

This is the second Nokia product to have been delayed due to software issues in the last few weeks.

Last month the company postponed the launch of its N91 music phone, which can store up to 3,000 songs, from the fourth to the first quarter.

The company said it delayed the product so that Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) software could be included to provide a wider range of music download services.

-By Johan Carlstrom, Dow Jones Newswires; +46 8 545 130 99; johan.carlstrom@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 5th October 2005