Nokia 10.1-inch Windows RT Tablet Coming with HDMI and USB ports to Rival Microsoft Surface

Gone are the days when the tablet market segment across the globe were only occupied by the credibility of only Apple iOS and Android device offerings. With the release of Windows 8 enthrusted in Microsoft very first tablet Surface, the waves have already been created in the tablet ocean and a drastic change is expected by tech analysts with the advent of New Year 2013.

This can be said as Nokia the official partner of Microsoft Windows 8 has been in news recently for its plans to launch a Windows 8 tablet very soon. According to a latest DigiTimes report, the Finnish phone manufacturer has resumed its development of a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet in association with Microsoft, Qualcomm and Compal Electronics.

Adding to the same, TheVerge has revealed new details on the upcoming tablet saying, the new device is said to come with a cover packing similar to that used by Microsoft and hence can be used as a book with the cover to function as the tablet's keyboard and bracket. The upcoming Nokia tablet will also include USB ports as well as HDMI ports built in it.

Further, reportedly, the features of the device would include a keyboard, two USB ports along with a kickstand. In addition to this, the 10.1-inch tablet PC is also expected to come equipped with a battery supporting up to 10 hours of usage. The device will also have a cellular connectivity modem in it.

In this context, folks at TheVerge also reported that the device would be officially introduced at the Mobile World Congress 2013 going to be conducted in February in Barcelona.

Nokia's Windows RT tablet is reported to flaunt a 10.1-inch screen display and would be powered by dual-core processor. Windows RT is a slimmed down version of Windows 8, which focuses more tablet features. This is the version of the software running in the Surface tablet. Unlike Windows 8, Windows RT only allows users to install apps from Microsoft's app store.

With the launch of this device, Nokia is focused more upon building its own production line of the tablet PCs to rival Microsoft, Samsung and HTC Windows 8 tablet offerings.

Microsoft created shocking waves in the tech industry entering the tech consumer market with the launch of Surface tablet running on the software giant's latest Windows 8 and Windows RT OS.

Talking about specs, Microsoft Surface tablets comes in two models - a budget friendly version featuring Windows RT operating system and running on ARM chipset and other priced similar to the Ultrabooks featuring Windows 8 Pro OS and based on Ivy Bridge processors.

As far as the other specs are concerned the tablet comes equipped with a 10.6 inch ClearType high definition display with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, Nvidia T30 processor, 2GB RAM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, two 720p cameras, micro SD card slot and USB 2.0 support. The Windows RT version will come in 32 GB and 64 GB versions while the Windows 8 Pro version will come in 64 GB and 128 GB versions.

The pricing has also been released, but only for the Wi-Fi version of Surface, while it will not support 3G or 4G capability. The 64GB Surface tablet with the black Touch Cover which also doubles up as as Keyboard will cost $699 (approx. Rs 37,000). The 32 GB version will cost $599 (approx. Rs 31,000) with the Touch Cover and $499 (approx. Rs 26,300) without the Touch Cover.

While, India is still not on the list, but analysts believe that the tablet will reach the Indian shores by 2013. Lately a report informed that Microsoft ordered for 3 to 5 million units of Surface tablets from the Asian component manufacturers, hinting that the company is expecting so many units to be sold soon after its release.

It can be easily assumed that Surface will compete directly with Nokia's upcoming Windows RT tablet. But, how does the Nokia offering and Surface stack up against each other on the showground, we will have to wait and watch for that.