The Unofficial Maemo FAQ

Published by Tzer2 at 17:29 UTC, August 27th 2009

What is Maemo?

Maemo is the software platform used by some of Nokia's mobile devices. It is based around the concepts of a mobile computer.

Or as Nokia describes it: "Maemo brings the power of computers to mobile devices. Designed with the internet at its core, Linux-based Maemo software takes us into a new era of mobile computing."

Is Maemo the same thing as Linux?

Maemo, also sometimes known as Maemo Linux, uses the Linux kernel at its core. Maemo is a type of Linux.

Is Maemo the same thing as Debian?

Maemo is based on the Debian Linux distro but has other 'stuff' added on top of that. If that means nothing to you don't worry, it's not important. :-)

Where can I get the official details of Maemo devices?

If you want raw numbers go to Forum Nokia's device section.

If you want a nice user-friendly consumer site go to maemo.nokia.com.

If you want a developer and community oriented site go to maemo.org.

Do I have to be a computer expert to use a Maemo smartphone?

No!

You do NOT need to know anything about computers!

Maemo is controlled entirely through a simple graphical touchscreen interface, it's as easy to use as any mobile phone.

But I thought Linux was for nerds and people with computer degrees!

Linux used to be difficult in its early years, but it was invented way back in 1991 and it has become a lot easier to use since then.

If you know how to use a mobile phone, then you will be able to use a Maemo smartphone.

Why doesn't Nokia use Android?

Why should they? It's existing open mobile platform, Symbian has more than ten time the market share of Android (50% verus 4%). Although this will change over time Symbian is expected to remain the dominant open mobile platform for at least the next 5 years.

Nokia started development of Maemo in 2004, years before Android was even announced. Maemo has a different underlying design philsophy when compared to Android, which positions it more as a platform for powering mobile computing devices rather than mobile phones.

Moreover, Google is a competitor of Nokia, both in the service space and, now, in the open mobile platform space.

I thought Nokia phones all used Symbian?

No. Maemo will be the operating system used on some of Nokia's most expensive and most advanced models. Symbian is used on a much greater range of devices from the high end to the mid tier, with a matching range of price points and functionality. Nokia also currently uses closed 'propietary' platforms, such as Series 40.

For those who are interested, Nokia has actually used many different operating systems on its phones over the years including Symbian, NokiaOS and Geos.

So is Nokia abandoning Symbian for Maemo?

No. Symbian remains Nokia's primary open mobile software platform. Nokia's will be putting Symbian on their cheaper phones (in place of Series 40), which tend to sell more, so Symbian sales will go up.

Maemo will be used in some high end models, especially those which fit in the space between mobile phone (smartphones) and mobile computers (laptops). With Maemo Nokia is looking to extend the range of its device portfolio, although, inevitably, there is some cross over.

Even using the defintion high-end is problematic, as high-end can be in the eye of the beholder.

Do I have to buy Maemo smartphones from phone network operators?

No. You do not.

This is a long-standing myth among the Maemo community and we would like to kill it here once and for all.

All Maemo devices will also be available as standalone unlocked gadgets just like the old tablets were. You can buy network-locked Maemo phones if you want to, but you don't have to.

In fact all Nokia phones including Maemo smartphones can be bought as unlocked unbranded SIM-free devices from electronics retailers such as Amazon, or you can order them directly from Nokia's own website (go to nokia.com and click on your country to see your local Nokia site).

This is a well-kept secret, but most mobile phones in general can be bought unbranded. The phone networks don't like to admit it, but there is absolutely no technical reason for buying a phone from a network operator. You can use any SIM card in the world on an unlocked phone. The phone networks hate people finding out about this because it reduces the amount of control they have over your phone, and if people use unbranded phones they can switch networks more easily, which means more competition. The networks hate competition because it means they have to work harder to keep customers, so they do their best to give the impression that unbranded phones don't exist or don't work. But they do exist and they do work, and if you want to promote competition among networks then you should only use unbranded phones.

You might think unbranded phones are too expensive, but that's just because you're seeing what phones really cost. You cannot avoid paying that amount one way or another. If you buy phones via a network operator you're just kidding yourself into thinking the phone is cheaper, but it isn't. Buying a phone on contract is effectively paying the same price as an unbranded phone but with the payments divided up into installments that are hidden in your phone bill. That's why some phones are "free" on contract, because the contract's monthly fees include the full cost of the phone.

If you're tempted by a phone contract's price, buy an unbranded phone on credit instead. That's what you'd be doing anyway if you get a locked phone on contract. Why buy a locked device on credit when you can get an unlocked one on credit for the same price?

Another advantage of buying an unbranded phone is that you get more firmware updates, and you get them more quickly too. Phone manufacturers generally make the unbranded versions of their firmware available before branded versions, so it's the people with unbranded phones that get the updates first.

Whichever way you look at it, unbranded phones are better, and buying unbranded gives you more control over your device. If you become unhappy with a particular phone network you can just switch to another network's SIM card without having to buy a new phone. If you want to upgrade an unbranded phone it's easy to get a good price for them on eBay because they work on practically everyone's SIM card so they get lots of bidders. You can then use the money from the sale to help buy a new phone.

I thought Maemo devices didn't make calls?

The original 770, N800 and N810 internet tablets didn't have any kind of cellular radio, so they couldn't make or receive mobile phone calls.

However, the latest Maemo devices are all full phones able to handle calls and messages through mobile phone networks. Although it should be noted that Maemo currently lacks supports for UTMS video calls and MMS.

Aren't Maemo devices really huge? I don't want to carry a brick in my pocket!

Maemo devices range in size. The Maemo 5 N900 is similar in size to many recent smartphones (e.g. Nokia's N97). It has a much smaller physical size that the older Maemo devices (770, N800, N810).

What happened to the Internet Tablets? Where are the Nokia 770, N800 and N810?

The Nokia 770 was discontinued in 2007, The N800 was discontinued in 2008, and we believe the N810 is about to be discontinued in 2009.

Maemo is a rip-off of the iPhone isn't it?

No.

Nokia released the first Maemo device in 2005. Apple released the first iPhone in 2007.

Can I install other operating systems on Maemo smartphones?

We're not 100% sure yet but probably yes. All previous Maemo devices have had some method for booting from a different operating system, it's possible that the new Maemo devices will have such methods too.

Where can I get more information about Maemo development? Where can I take part in the Maemo development community?

The official site for the Maemo development community is maemo.org, which has been the centre of Maemo activity since the beginning of the platform. maemo.org is run by the Maemo community, with Nokia providing funding support (i.e. it is not an official Nokia site).

What happened to the Internet Tablet Talk forum?

The unofficial Maemo community site Internet Tablet Talk has recently been merged into maemo.org, and you can access it by going to maemo.org and clicking on "Talk" at the top of the page.

What is the relationship between Maemo and the Nokia 7710

The Nokia 7710 was based on the Symbian operating system and was Nokia's first touchscreen smartphone. It was released in 2004, but for various technical and political reasons didn't get much publicity.

The first Maemo device was the Nokia 770 internet tablet. It was released in 2005 and used a graphical interface that resembled the interface on the Nokia 7710. They used different operating systems, but their "look and feel" was somewhat similar. This is because they were both based on the Hildon UI.