Nokia is finally going for Android

The Normandy phone Nokia is working on. (Image: evleaks)

From latest and recent trustworthy sources, Nokia is going to launch an Android powered smartphone in 2014. Referring to latest leaked images, Nokia’s Android phone code named Normandy will look just like a Windows Phone Lumia, with Nokia’s customary colorful poly-carbonate uni-body shell, but without the capacitive buttons at the bottom of the screen. Nokia has been developing the Android-powered phone
despite Microsoft’s plans to acquire the company’s handset business. It’s now unclear whether Nokia will release the handset before the Microsoft deal is finalized, or whether Microsoft will continue with the plans for the device.

Nokia's Android phone is said to run a "forked" version of Google's OS, similar to how Amazon makes use of the system for its hardware.Normandy can run Android apps like Skype and other popular applications, according to the sources. Because of its forked status, Nokia would be able to fully customize the OS, taking it out from under Google rule.

Numerous sources have revealed to The Verge that Normandy is designed as an Asha equivalent to push low-cost devices with access to more traditional smartphone apps something the company has struggled to achieve for its Series 40-powered Asha line. Nokia employees working on Normandy were informed the device is planned as a 2014 release, and one insider described the Normandy effort as "full steam ahead." Unless Nokia manages to release Normandy ahead of its Microsoft deal, we can’t imagine Microsoft is interested in using Android to target the low-end over its own Windows Phone operating system.

With the release of the Tango update for Windows Phone, which reduced the mobile OS’s hardware requirements, Nokia was able to make some progress towards cheaper smartphones. Semingly, though, with Normandy on the horizon for 2014, Nokia still isn’t entirely happy with Windows Phone.