The Verge cites sources familiar with Nokia's plans as saying that the Finnish handset maker has been working on its first Android phone, codenamed Normandy, and that it is expected to be launched in 2014. Interestingly, the report reveals that Nokia, following the lead of Amazon, is working on a fully-tailored or forked version of Android, like the software on the online retail giant's Kindle Fire tablet range.
The rumoured Nokia Normandy smartphone is said to be targeted at the low-cost segment as an Asha-equivalent smartphone, but with access to more traditional smartphone apps - a benefit that the report suggests has been missing in Nokia's dated Series 40-based Asha phones. Further, the report describes the Nokia Normandy efforts as 'full steam ahead'.
Unfortunately, there is no word on the innards of the alleged Nokia Normandy. Earlier, the serial phone tipster, @evleaks revealed the rumoured Nokia Normandy in a render, saying, "A real Asha. Or Lumia? The Nokia Normandy."
Contradicting the rumours about a Nokia Android phone, Stephen Elop, the former CEO of Nokia had said in July that the company made the right decision by choosing Windows Phone over Android. As of now, there is no clarity whether the alleged Nokia Normandy Android phone is true or just a rumour.
It would be interesting to see if Nokia can release its rumoured Android phone ahead of the completion of the Microsoft deal.
After signing a pact to sell its handset business to Microsoft, Nokia could neither license the 'Nokia' brand for use in connection with mobile device sales nor use the brand on its own mobile devices for a specific period. In addition, Microsoft has already agreed to a 10-year license arrangement with Nokia to use the Nokia brand on current and subsequently developed mobile phones based on the Series 30 and Series 40 operating systems.
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