Despite snapping up Symbian only a matter of days ago, Nokia has revealed that in the future it plans to use a Linux-based operating system in its more expensive models.

Symbian-designed S60 (and S60 Touch) is currently the OS of choice for Nokia’s pricier handsets like the N85, N96 and N97, but vice president of markets Ukko Lappalainen told Reuters that “in the longer perspective, Linux will become a serious alternative for our high-end phones.”

It’s a little-known fact that Nokia already uses Linux in some devices. Fire up an N800 or N810 Internet tablet and you’ll be using a Linux variant called Maemo, and Lappalainen confirmed that it’s likely to be this (rather than, say, Google’s Linux-based Android) that will form the basis of the swanky new high-end OS. It already offers full touchscreen support and loads of stable apps, so you can perhaps see why. We’ll bring you more on Nokia’s Linux plans in the future.

Via Reuters