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Report: Nokia N9 not coming to the U.S.

Engadget says that Nokia has no plans to release the MeeGo-based device in the U.S., even though it cleared FCC hurdles.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger
2 min read
The Nokia N9 might not be coming to the U.S.
The Nokia N9 might not be coming to the U.S. Nokia

Nokia will not be launching its anticipated N9 smartphone in the U.S., a new report from Engadget claims.

"After the very positive reception to the launch of the Nokia N9, the product is now being rolled out in countries around the world," Nokia reportedly wrote to Engadget. "At this time we will not be making it available in the U.S."

Nokia did not immediately respond to CNET's request for confirmation of Engadget's report.

Nokia announced the N9 in June. The device comes with a 3.9-inch AMOLED touch display and offers versions with storage of 16GB and 64GB. The smartphone comes in three colors--black, cyan, and magenta--and boasts an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and "HD-quality video capture."

Related stories:
Nokia shows off MeeGo-based N9 smartphone
Nokia's new N9 MeeGo phone (hands-on)
Nokia N9, BlackBerry Bold Touch clear FCC

The N9's most notable feature, though, is its operating system. Unlike its predecessors, which were running Symbian, the device ships with Linux-based mobile operating system MeeGo.

If Nokia decides against launching the N9 in the States, it would be quite surprising, considering that the company last month cleared the Federal Communications Commission vetting process, seemingly paving the way for a U.S. launch.

Regardless of what Nokia decides on the N9, the smartphone is clearly not central to the company's future plans. Earlier this year, it signed a deal with Microsoft that will bring Windows Phone 7 to its line of handsets. Nokia's Windows Phone 7-based smartphones are expected to make their debut by the end of this year.