According to the Wall Street Journal, Nokia is looking to enlarge its mobile footprint in emerging markets, by developing a new mobile OS for for its low-end phones. The publication quotes “people familiar with the matter” stating that this new OS will be a Linux-based operating system, code-named Meltemi, which is the Greek word for “dry summer winds that blow across the Aegean Sea from the north.” This project is being headed up by Mary McDowell, Nokia’s executive vice president in charge of mobile phones.

It’s difficult to believe that Nokia would make moves towards creating another mobile OS, seeing that it already pushed its Symbian and new MeeGo OS to the mobile operating system fringes with its decision to use Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS as its primary smartphone operating system in the near future. Other publications including Engadget have pointed out though, that this move does make sense since low-end devices accounted for 47% of Nokia’s Q2 2011 device-and-services earnings.
 
In related news Nokia recently showcased its first MeeGo-operating Nokia N9 smartphone at a function held in Cape Town and also recently revealed that there will be software updates for this smartphone in future.