According to multiple sources “familiar with the company’s plans”, Nokia’s Android phone is codenamed Normandy, but is known internally under several different monikers.
The Android handset will be the next step in Nokia’s low-end smartphone line with access to a wider range of apps.
Similar to the Amazon Kindle Fire OS, Nokia will seemingly develop its own special “forked” version of Android not directly aligned with Google’s own OS.
An image of the Android Nokia phone was released by notorious tech tipster @evleaks in December, showing a Lumia-styled device with no capacitive navigation buttons.
The Verge’s sources say Nokia Normandy is an Android Asha equivalent with access to more traditional apps that aren’t available on Windows Phone. This is something the company has struggled with for the Asha line and it already supports apps like Skype.
Nokia employees have been told the Normandy will be released next year, with one insider said the production is “full steam ahead”.
The sale of Nokia to Microsoft is currently underway and it would seem bizarre for Microsoft to allow Nokia to use Android for low-end handsets over its own Windows Phone OS.
Nokia may just get away with an Android release if it can get the device out before the Microsoft takeover is complete.
Microsoft may well scrap the Normandy effort if Nokia is too late to release it.
We currently have no information on any specs for the Normandy phone, but don’t expect it to be rivalling any flagship handsets.
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