Reports that Nokia smartphones could one day all use the Linux-based Maemo OS instead of Symbian just won’t die - especially now that Maemo representatives have allegedly confirmed that N-series Nokias will soon lose Symbian.

At an event in London last night, unnamed members of the “Maemo marketing team” allegedly told blog The Really Mobile Project that Nokia plans to substitute Symbian for Maemo on N-series devices such as the N900, scrutinised here – by 2012.

The switch will apparently be gradual, though, with Maemo-based devices slowly filling Nokia’s flagship phone range by 2012.

If accurate, the report would tally with comments made back in August by Peter Schneider, Head of Marketing for Maemo Devices at Nokia, who said that while “Nokia is not replacing Symbian with Maemo” the two “will continue to co-exist”.

In related news, the Maemo marketing bods also apparently let slip that Nokia’s Ovi store – an download portal akin to Apple’s App Store – will eventually house both Symbian and Maemo applications. ®