Nokia’s Android phone to be unveiled at MWC on February 24
Nokia Normandy / X reportedly ready to launch at MWC in Barcelona
The Wall Street Journal reports that Nokia will introduce its Android smartphone codenamed Normandy at MWC later in February. With Nokia Normandy a.k.a Nokia X, the Finish manufacturer tries to integrate Microsoft and Google services and apps into a single app store while Nokia X is said to run a forked Android version, similar to the Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablets. A press event at Mobile World Congress has been scheduled as press invitations hints “meet us under the tree”. In this light, we can see a connection with Android, as the phone would be Nokia’s first (and last) Android powered device.
The phone would run many Google apps like Vine, Facebook, Skype and BBM as well as Microsoft’s and Nokia’s exclusive services such as HERE Maps. As far as the design, Nokia X (Normandy) would be similar to the low-end range of Lumia smartphones such as Lumia 520 and Lumia 525. Similarly, the Normandy would have low-end specs – 512 MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. Importantly, the Android phone is said to be extremely cheap with a price below 100 EUR, suitable for the emerging market.
There are many theories why Nokia is releasing an Android phone just ahead of the Microsoft deal. One of the reasons could be the huge potential of the low-cost market which tolerates cheap Android-based models. As Nokia embraced Windows Phone, this segment has been neglected and company’s shares have started to decline. With Microsoft and Nokia releasing a phone under Google’s owned OS, they would boost volumes in the emerging markets which in turn would generate more revenue and make both companies more competitive on the market. Anyway, the big plan will be unveiled very soon as Nokia’s press event takes place on February 24, at 8.30 a.m. Spanish time.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
