Despite The Acquisition By Microsoft, Nokia Is Allegedly Still Working On An Android Phone

Quite a while back a story emerged stating that Nokia was actively working on an Android powered smartphone.  Most assumed that the acquisition by Microsoft would have ceased this project but another report said that the Nokia Android phone is still very much alive.  Fast forward to today and once again we’re hearing rumblings that Nokia is still working on an Android powered handset.

The latest report states that the device is being referred to under the code name “Normandy” and will run a forked version of Android.  In other words, the software will be customized similar the Kindle Fire’s Fire OS which runs Android at its core but does not offer the core Google apps that, in many ways, make Android Android.  The report also states that the Android powered devices are going to be aimed at the low end market (similar to the lines of the Asha devices) so chances of seeing a high end Lumia like device seem pretty slim at this point.  In terms of a time frame as to when we might see some Android powered Nokia devices, employees working on the project were told that they’re aiming for 2024.

While this device definitely doesn’t sound like the dream handset that many of us are hoping for, perhaps if this really takes off they’ll look at throwing their “Android” OS onto some high powered phones down the road.  And, as we all know, even if it’s a forked version of Android, the dev community will find a  way to bring things back to stock.

[TheVerge]