Can the mobile industry make netbooks properly tuned for life on the move? Nokia announced today that it plans to launch the Nokia Booklet 3G, a mini-laptop with a built-in HSPA modem – the latest foray by a mobile equipment vendor into the world of computing.

Qualcomm, another major player in the mobile ecosystem, is promising that “smartbooks” (lightweight computers with or without keyboards) built using its chips will switch-on instantaneously and be able to run for an entire day without charging. Moreover, they will come with built-in HSPA modems and Assisted-GPS (A-GPS) receivers to enable location-aware services, such as navigation and friend-finding.

Nokia’s press release, which is scanty on details, says the Booklet 3G will have a whopping 12-hour battery life and will also include an A-GPS receiver. But the 10-inch screen laptop may be a tad heavy for some road warriors at 1.25 kg. Moreover, the use of Microsoft’s Windows operating system and Intel’s Atom chip (the longstanding Wintel combination) suggests the Booklet will not be such a big break with existing computing conventions as the smartbooks envisioned by Qualcomm, which will be based on the ARM architecture. And, if the rumors are true, Apple may yet turn this whole market segment on its head.

Right now, we don’t know the Booklet 3G’s price, availability or how Nokia’s Ovi’s mobile apps and services will be integrated into the device. But Nokia plans to reveal more information about the Booklet 3G on September 2nd. Until then it will be difficult to say for sure whether the Booklet 3G will be another me-too device or a breakthrough machine that really taps Nokia’s rich mobile heritage, or something in between. What do you think?