Nokia Normandy Android phone tipped for MWC unveiling

The Nokia Normandy, also known as the Nokia X, is expected to launch at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event later this month as the company's first Android-based handset - even as the company completes the sale of its mobile division to Windows Phone creator Microsoft.

According to sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal, the Nokia Normandy will be an entry-level device based on a heavily customised version of Google's Android operating system. Specifications have not been formally confirmed, but earlier rumours had suggested that the Nokia Normandy would feature just 512MB of memory and 4GB of internal storage in order to keep the cost of the device as low as possible.

The Nokia Normandy is expected to run Android, but it won't use the same stock Android interface as other devices on the market: taking advantage of the open source nature of the operating system, Nokia has apparently 'forked' the code in order to create a new operating system of its own based on and compatible with Android. It's a tactic used to great success by Amazon with its Kindle Fire family of tablets, which are also based on a customised version of Android, but potentially means that some features common to Android handsets, such as the PhotoSphere panoramic imaging option on the Camera app, won't be available on the Nokia Normandy. It is also possible that the handset won't support the Google Play Store, instead using a third party app store created and curated by Nokia.

Nokia itself has refused to comment on the rumours, but is expected to unveil the handset at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona later this month, with a view to a commercial launch later in the year. What will happen to the device when Microsoft completes its acquisition of the company, however, is not yet known.