Nokia's tablet gets Skype-enabled

Nokia has updated its popular internet tablet PC with a range of improvements, including the ability to make Skype calls.

Skype's software can be downloaded to the new tablet, allowing users to make VoIP calls from the device when they are within reach of a wi-fi hotspot. The tablet's 802.11b/g radio auto-connects to wi-fi hotspots, meaning users can make free internet calls and avoid paying standard mobile phone tariffs.

The new version of the tablet will be released this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and is called the N800 Internet Tablet.

It offers a substantial performance boost over the previous model, the N770. RAM is increased to 128MB and the processor works at 320MHz, up from 220MHz. The N800 also features a Qwerty keyboard and Opera browser.

But it will not be cheap. Nokia is planning a retail price of €399 plus local taxes. Battery life should be around 3.5 hours.

The Linux-based tablet also boasts support for instant messaging, PDF documents, MP3 and Mpeg4, and contains two hot-swappable memory card slots, compatible with SD and MMC cards.

Richard Thurston writes for ZDNet UK