Nokia Android smartphone still in the works

Nokia may not be giving up on its rumored Android phone after all, that is if new photos posted online are to be believed.

The new images were posted on Twitter and on Chinese social network Weibo, tech site The Verge and Windows enthusiast site WMPowerUser reported.

“Images of Nokia’s Android phone – code-named Normandy – were published in November, showing what purported to be a low-cost smartphone that would run with a custom implementation of Android. Now another picture of the phone has appeared on Twitter, showing an apparent ‘engineering prototype’ with a prominent back button and the Nokia logo on a live screen,” The Verge said.

Although a protective case hides some of the phone’s details, the Nokia product appeared “markedly similar” to the leaked images released in November and January, it added.

The Verge cited sources familiar with the project as saying the phone will use a custom version of Google’s Android, and a custom UI with cues from Windows Phone and Nokia’s low-end Asha.

Nokia has been associated with Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, and its Normandy project had been considered in limbo after Microsoft acquired Nokia.

While The Verge said the prototype on the photo could be an old model, it could also suggest that the Normandy project may “not be on hold after all.”

Meanwhile, WMPowerUser said the handset may be positioned between Asha and Nokia’s low-end Lumia handsets.

“Many believe the handset will never see the light, given Microsoft’s impending purchase of Nokia’s handset division, but others believe the handset is already in production and will soon come to market, possibly before Microsoft gains control of Nokia’s phone division,” it added.