The Nokia netbook features a 10-inch HD-ready screen, weighs 1.25 kilograms (2.75 pounds), it runs Windows 7 and connects to Wi-Fi as well as 3G cellular wireless networks.

The Nokia Booklet 3G has an aluminum case, it is about 2cm thick, powered by an Intel Atom processor and has 12 hours of battery life.

Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution

Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices said: “We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”

One of the reasons Nokia is going into the crowded netbook market is that the cell phone industry’s sales of handsets are expected to decline 10% this year while netbooks are a growing market and the netbook shipments should double this year.

Detailed specifications about the Nokia Booklet 3G will be released next week at the Nokia World conference in Stuttgart, Germany but it is already set to compete against the upcoming Apple tablet.