MeeGo is set to be ‘the’ operating system of 2011 and will be found on a slew of high-end and consumer smartphones. We’re very much expecting the Nokia N9 to be the first MeeGo smartphone but what else can we expect from this platform? Read on to find out how MeeGo smartphones will play out in 2011.

MeeGo is the next stage of evolution for Nokia’s high-end smartphone platform and brings together the Nokia Maemo platform and Intel’s Moblin own OS. While it was hoped that the first handsets would be made available in 2010, Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop, commented back in October that MeeGo would be a ‘major event in 2011’.

MeeGo has been designed to be as open as possible, which is why we’ll see it not only on smartphones but also netbooks, laptops and even navigation devices. This seamless sharing of the core OS means we’ll be able to share information between devices with a very similar look on feel no matter the hardware used.

It’s worth remembering that MeeGo hasn’t been planned to replace Symbian handsets. Rather, it’s been developed for those who need a high-end and more multi-function device. Think of it more as a true mobile computer with all that implies, with call and phone functions as a secondary concern and you’ll see a need for Symbian in lower end devices.

Developers will love that MeeGo uses the Qt application development environment, so apps can be developed just once and then converted to other platforms with minimal fuss. Once developed, apps will be ready available through the Nokia Ovi Store, which is no doubt gearing up for a mass influx of new content alongside the thousands of Symbian apps already posted.

Check out the latest MeeGo Screengrabs

So, with 2011 opening up before us like a giant canvas waiting be filled, the question is, ‘when will I be able to get my hands on a device?’ Well, judging by the milestones the MeeGo developers have put in place, it’s likely that we’ll see the final release of the OS in May 2011. This doesn’t mean we’ll see devices straight away, as hardware/software compatibility testing will still need to be carried out. This all means we’re looking at a speculative June launch for the Nokia handsets, most likely the Nokia N9.

If you’re still curious as to what MeeGo can offer and own a Nokia N900, then you can download and install the basic MeeGo OS.

So what do you think, is MeeGo going to be the platform that truly pushes the Nokia high-end devices forward and how excited are you about the arrival of the Nokia N9? Let us know whayt you think in the Comments below.