We are hearing the Nokia Android smartphone plans from quite some time, but until now all these are rumors and we didn’t have any concrete information on these. With the acquisition of Nokia by Microsoft we are hoping that we will never see a Nokia and Android together, but this might change according to The Verge.
The Verge quoting its sources says that Nokia Normandy device is indeed Nokia’s Android smartphone. @evleaks has leaked the Normandy device in November, the device looks strikingly similar to the Lumia lineup, but the back button on the front of the device and absence of capacitive buttons found on Lumia makes it look like something different. According to the report this device runs on a forked version of Android similar to the Amazon approach for its Kindle Fire device lineup.
This phone running Android supports several popular Android applications and Nokia is planning an appstore like the Amazon store. According to Verge sources the development of this phone is “full steam ahead”. The phone is expected to launch in 2014, but with the acquisition of Microsoft we are highly skeptical whether this device will see the light of the day. Microsoft might not be interested in developing an Android device when it is fully promoting Windows Phone as an alternative to iOS and Android.
Nokia’s plan seems to replace Asha line up with this Android powered low cost smartphones for the emerging markets. Asha phones are popular in developing markets like India. Nokia is not successful in attracting developers to the platform, in this situation it makes sense for Nokia to go to Android for low end phones with support for popular Android applications.
There are many Nokia fans who wants to see an a Nokia Android smartphone from Nokia, including me. But the possibility of getting one is bleak, but it is good to know never the less that Nokia has one up its sleeves.
