I hate to say it, but I just don't see the N900 being offered by a US carrier. Look at it this way: The N900 is designed as an always-connected computer, a pocket desktop with broadband if you will, with all the usual desktop web-based functions, that oh, by the way, happens to make phone calls. That's how it's described by Nokia people themselves. A 'net connection is vital to it's basic concept and functionality, obviously. I'm wasting time repeating what many have already said...but bear with me a bit.

Anyway, point is, there are 4 carriers in the US Nokia could make deals with, again obviously. But the are serious problems hooking up with any of them.

1. T-Mobile. The obvious choice since as the N900 is presently configured, T-Mobile is the only US carrier that can offer the GSM 3G connection so vital to full functionality on the N900. They showed with the G1 they are willing to risk introducing a new Linux-based OS. But T-Mobile has their hands full with Google-branded Android phones right now and they likely don't want to jeopardize a Good Thing with Google by offering direct competition. 3G service is good where available and growing, but still limited.

2. AT&T. The only other GSM provider so the easiest to adapt the N900 to, but understandably unwilling to do anything that might upset Steve Jobs, who has his hands wrapped tightly around AT&T's throat. Note their recent cancellation of Android phones. In many areas the 3G network is so overloaded it might as well be Edge - if it works at all.

3. Veri$on. CDMA service, difficult to make a deal with as they're almost as bad a control freaks as Apple is. No doubt also not wanting to tick off Jobs & Co. so they can help themselves to a large piece of Apple pie.

4. Sprint. CDMA service, incompetent management, poor infrastructure, very, very shaky financially. So inept they turned over running their network to Ericsson. Would make a human sacrifice for an exclusive iPhone deal.

Add to the above:

1. Training CS staff to support a root-enabled real Linux device. Android/Google made CS easier for T-Mobile by sandboxing all apps, denying root access, etc. No such protection for them with Maemo (thank god).

2. Most US customers are unfamiliar with Nokia. Is there an app for that?

3. The N900 will require a heavy-duty subsidy to price it competitively with BB, iPhone, Android phones, etc.

4. Few US users know anything about unlocked phones or would be willing to pay unlocked prices. They never heard of CDMA, GSM, SIM cards. Are there apps for those?

5. In the US, smartphone = iPhone. Business phone = Blackberry. The end.

But the story isn't yet written. Nokia's not stupid, they're fully aware of everything I listed and more, appear to have a plan and the resources to back them up. So the situation's certainly not hopeless, just serious. There's no room for more N97-type errors in the US. The hardware and OS will have to be excellent from now on to generate 'Net buzz and positive reviews, backed up with plenty of ads to generate public awareness.

Sorry for the long post, I know stating again things most readers here already know. I just wanted to put together an overview of some the potholes in the road to success in the US that Nokia and the N900 faces. A very, VERY rough road. Nokia will need to kick in the 4WD and bring spare tires.