Nokia Launches first family of Android phones

News by:  Hamad Shaikh 24th Feb 2014

Nokia has unveiled its first family of Android phones at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.

The X, X+ and XL will range in price from 89 euros (£74) to 109 euros.

Up until now Nokia's suite of smartphones has used the Windows operating system. The announcement had been widely expected despite Microsoft detailing plans to buy Nokia's mobile division at the end of 2013.

Analysts have called the announcement a "perplexing strategic move".

The entry-level X model will feature a 4in (10.2cm) screen with 512MB Ram and a three-megapixel camera. The X+ will have 768MB Ram and a 4GB MicroSD card.

The top-end XL will have a 5in screen, a front-facing two-megapixel camera and a rear five-megapixel camera.

The X will go on sale immediately in several territories including Europe and Asia Pacific. The X+ and XL will launch in April.

Users who buy one of the X models will be able to use Microsoft's free cloud-storage system, OneDrive. The software giant's email software, Outlook, will also ship as standard on all models.

news source: BBC

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Nokia considered making Android-based Lumias

News by: Ben Furfie,16 Sep 2013

Nokia was working on Android-powered Lumia handsets before it sold its mobile phone division to Microsoft.

Speaking to the New York Times, people familiar with the matter claimed that Nokia set up a small, dedicated team to investigate Android-powered Lumia handsets.

According to the sources, the Android Lumias were “up and running” long beforeMicrosoft bought Nokia’s mobile phone and services business last month.

Microsoft paid $7.2 billion for the company’s handset division.

Read more: Nokia hints at Thursday launch for Nokia 1020

The report claims that Microsoft was aware of the Android Lumia’s existence during early discussions, but were never part of the negotiation.

Nokia originally sided with Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system after warning that there was a “very high risk” could become dominated by one single company.

Time has shown that to be true, with Samsung accounting for four in every five Android handsets sold.

note:The report does not stipulate whether Nokia had any plans to launch Lumia handsets running Android, or if it was simply an internal experiment. 

news source: t3.com

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