Nokia at Mobile World Congress launches 3 variants of Nokia android smartphone running on AOSP-based Android and are capable of running Android apps and Microsoft services. After a long wait and a lot of rumors, finally Nokia breaks the silence and launches their first Nokia android smartphone

As Nokia mentioned, the trio are based on Android Open Source Project, a highly modified Android operating system. Clearly said by nokia during the launch that Nokia X,  X+, and XL are running on AOSP with Microsoft Services not Google but Core.

The 3 Nokia android smartphones look like upgraded Asha phones, and it seems that Nokia is committed to promote it heavily for the broad C market.

See the picture below for initial specs and looks.







 

are compatible with Android Apps. The apps may be downloaded from from Nokia Store or 3rd party app stores. You may also sideload APK files that's great about this phone.

Nokia also announce new feature for their Asha phone, Nokia 220 and Asha 230.

Microsoft expressed its support for Nokia's efforts, although noting it was "less excited" about some projects than others.

Microsoft's Joe Belfiore kicks off the company's event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.(Credit: Shara Tibken/CNET)

Things got awkward for short moment on stage when Microsoft executives were asked about the possibility of Nokia using Android.

Joe Belfiore, vice president of operating systems for Windows, looked to Nick Parker, who runs the world original equipment manufacturer group. Parker looked back, with both wanting to defer to the other.

Belfiore spoke up, reiterating Microsoft's strong relationship with Nokia.

Some things we're excited about, some things we're less excited about," Belfiore said during Microsoft's Mobile World Congress press conference on Sunday, eliciting more than a few chuckles. "Whatever they do, we're very supportive of them."

Parker chimed in, noting that he appreciates the competition.

"It's great to sit there and compete"

Nokia and Microsoft have long had a cozy partnership, particularly with devices head Stephen Elop, a Microsoft veteran poised to return to the mothership. Nokia, in turn, is responsible for a vast majority of sales of Windows Phone devices. Any growth in sales for Windows Phone is due to Nokia. It's the only company to consistently show excitement about the operating system.

"What they do is what they do," Belfiore said.

Source : Cnet

Nokia is preparing to unveil its first Android phone later this month. There's a lot of rumors revealing in different groups that Nokia will unveil its "Normandy" phone at Mobile World Congress later this month. Citing sources familiar with Nokia’s plans.Previous reports say that Nokia’s first Android phone will use a modified "forked" version of Google’s operating system. The effort is similar to Amazon’s use of Android for its Kindle range of tablets, and Nokia is expected to integrate Microsoft services onto the device with a special application store for some existing Android apps.

Nokia has scheduled a press event later this month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, hinting only at "meet us under the tree." The Finnish smartphone-maker also recently teased an upcoming Windows Phone announcement, but we think Nokia will not focus heavily on its future Windows Phone plans at Mobile World Congress. Instead, Nokia will reportedly detail its "Nokia Normandy Phone", which is expected to be named "Nokia X" once it starts shipping. With a lack of Google Play Store access on Nokia’s Android phone, the company may be forced to focus on any apps it has managed to successfully port to its forked version of Android

Previous leaks have revealed that Nokia’s Android device will include a Windows Phone-like UI, and can run Android apps like Skype, Twitter, Vine, Facebook, and BBM. Photos of what appears to be a near-final unit of the "Normandy" Android phone have also appeared, showing a handset that looks similar to Nokia’s low-end Windows Phone devices. While Microsoft continues to target low-cost with Windows Phone, Nokia’s Android phone will also focus on this market with low-end specifications mainly ranging at 4GB of storage and 512MB of RAM. Nokia’s Mobile World Congress press event takes place on February 24th, and we’ll be there to bring you the latest on Normandy