Nokia decided many years ago not to make Android smartphones, disappointing many fans who would have loved to own a flagship Android handset made by Nokia. The company did come out with some entry-level Android devices of its own earlier this year, but they ran a forked version of Android and Microsoft soon discontinued them following its acquisition of Nokia’s phone business.
But Nokia, which is still interested in the mobile landscape despite selling its mobile division, may be working on a high-end Android handset of its own, Chinese publication MyDrivers has learned.
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Apparently the team behind the MeeGo-running Nokia N9 is designing a flagship Android device, although Nokia might not be able to sell it under its own name following its deal with Microsoft, and instead it might have to create a different brand for it.
Other details about this Nokia-made Android handset are not available at this time, so it’s not clear what kind of Android version it’ll run; it may be a Google-approved Android OS, or Nokia could be building its own separate version of Android. Release plans and specs are still unavailable at this time.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is ready to drop Nokia branding from its future Windows Phone handsets, which will be known as Microsoft Lumia devices moving forward.