Nokia’s low-end Android phone is actually happening

BY GreenBot Staff

Published 24 Feb 2014

BARCENA—Of all the announcements happening here at Mobile rld Congress, Nokia’s foray to the “dark side” is perhaps the most enticing. After all, this is a company that has pledged its allegiance time time again to the ndows one ecosystem, but is now taking its chances on a green robot birthed by .

On Monday Nokia introduced the X, X+, X three low-end devices meant to help Microsoft “reach people it has never talked to around the world,” according to Elop, executive vice president of devices services at Nokia. He added that the real philosophy behind these three particular Android-based devices is to take people “to Microsoft’s cloud, not ’s cloud.” 

The software on all the devices is based entirely on the Android Open Source oject, Nokia has specially tweaked it to look like the ndows one interface—it even utilizes its own version of ve Tiles. The cy bar-style X X+ feature a 4-inch GA screen, though the X+ has more RAM. Both look somewhat similar to Nokia’s affordable ASHA line of phones, they also boast their own suite of apps, including Skype, OneDrive, Outlook.com. 

The Nokia Xis a bit bigger than its two siblings. It sports a 5-inch GA display, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, though it utilizes the same software suite of apps. 

Microsnub?

Nokia’s foray into the Android ecosystem is particular interesting considering that it’s almost sealed the deal on its merger with Microsoft. “at they do, some things we may be excited about— some things we are not as excited about,” said e Belfiore, Microsoft’s vice president of ndows one, during the Microsoft press conference at M. He was likely referring to this particular family of devices. 

However, it’s in both companies’ interests to try on Android for size, especially when taking into consideration Microsoft’s renewed focus on selling mass quantities of devices. 

Nokia plans to introduce the X, X+, Xto “growth markets” early next quarter. The X will sell for 89 Euros, the X+ for 99 Euros, the Xfor 109 Euros.