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Before Nokia’s phone business is owned in full by Microsoft, it may be able to squeeze out an Android smartphone.
The Finnish phone maker has been working on a low-cost Android smartphone that’s codenamed Normandy, according to the Verge. This is device is said to use a “forked” variant of Android that is different from what Google uses.
A press image of this purported smartphone was leaked in late November and published by @evleaks on Twitter. While no specifications were included with the photo leak, one can see that the phone comes with a touch screen and no noticeable capacitive navigation buttons.
According to the Verge, sources familiar with the matter have said that the smartphone supports Android apps and the company allegedly has plans to release it in 2014.
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This would be one of several recent devices on which Nokia has reportedly thought of using Android. A New York Times report in September said that Nokia was testing Android on Lumia devices before the Microsoft deal.
Nokia signed a deal with Microsoft in 2011 to use the Windows Phone OS on its handsets but had the option of opting out at the end of 2014. This is when it was said to be considering switching to Android.
Microsoft finally acquired Nokia’s devices and services division for $7.2 billion in September. It’s unclear if Normandy will get transformed into a Windows Phone, if Nokia will release it as an Android phone before the Microsoft buyout is complete, or if something totally different will happen. The Microsoft deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.
CNET has contacted Nokia for comment on the report and will update this report when we learn more.
