Nokia launches a trio of Android platform phones

[programminggeek]

I wondered how long it would take for Microsoft to basically make their own Android phone with MS only services on it. This is the beauty of open source. This is actually I think a good thing and it sort of reminds me of Apple having the X86 OS X build in the background and finally releasing it. It's not quite the same deal as Android is not replacing Windows Phone anytime soon, but it's an interesting way for Nokia to keep pace in key markets they need to be in.

[fidotron]

Poor Peter Bright, he must be so confused.

And poor Google, for the most exciting Android handsets don't have their services on them.

[robmcm]

I really don't get why they have done this.

Anyone care to explain how this works/will work with the whole MS purchase?

[microtonal]

It's very difficult to understand, especially considering that Windows Phone 8 runs pretty well on comparable low-end hardware (e.g. Lumia 520)

Unless these models persist under Microsoft, I can only assume that it's some last rogue action of the independent Nokia.

It's still a shame that they didn't put something with the quality of the 920 or 925 out with Android :/.

[daigoba66]

MS doesn't yet own Nokia. Someone may correct me if I'm wrong but I believe neither MS nor Nokia can legally operate, or cooperate, as if the merger were to go through. Therefore this just Nokia operating independently, I guess for it's own self-interest.

[moondowner]

Nokia offers high-end smartphones based on Windows Phone, and low-end ones based on the Asha platform. With this, they fill the gap in the middle.

[waps]

> The Nokia X range will run the Andrcusoid Open Source Project (AOSP) operating system, but without Google's stack on top of it. Instead, it'll have a Nokia store, Microsoft services, and a custom front-end.

Classic microsoft embrace and extend. Also : they look horrible.