Reports have suggested that Nokia and Microsoft had been in talks for years before the Redmond, Washington-based company finally agreed to absorb Nokia’s phone business. The straw that broke the camel’s back, according to chatter in Finland, was a tiny entry-level phone code-named Normandy. This handset was special for one reason and one reason alone: it ran Android. First leaked to the public last year, Nokia apparently used the Normandy to force Microsoft’s hand, ultimately leading to the $7.2 billion deal announced last year, $5 billion of which covers Nokia’s devices and services business. While we have seen marketing renders of the phone leak a number of times, a photo of the Normandy has now seemingly leaked for the first time ever.
Twitter user seamissu on Sunday posted a photo of what he claims is an engineering prototype of Nokia’s Normandy. The device pictured matches earlier leaks. While no additional details surrounding Nokia’s supposed Android phone can be gleaned from this newly leaked image, the photo could be a good indication that Nokia is still testing the Normandy behind closed doors. According to some rumors, the device is still scheduled to launch sometime in 2014.
The leaked photo that seemingly reveals Nokia’s Android-powered Normandy smartphone follows below.
