New Delhi: Reports suggest that Nokia is building its own Android smartphone. A report published in The Verge said the mysterious Nokia phone would be called Normandy. The device is said to be developed as an equivalent to the low-cost Nokia Asha range.
An image of the handset was published in November by @evleaks, showing a Lumia-style device with no apparent capacitive buttons for navigation. The phone, as per the report, will support Android applications like Skype and other popular apps.
The Nokia Normandy allegedly runs heavily modified Android version which allows the phone to run popular Android apps — something the company has struggled to achieve for its Series 40-powered Asha line.
Nokia's effort is similar to Amazon's own use of Android, allowing the company to customize it fully for its own use.
The Finnish handset maker plans to launch the smartphone in 2014. However, it will be interesting to see how Nokia proceed with the device given Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's devices & services.
