Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (HEL:NOK1V)’s much-awaited Android smartphone, dubbed Nokia X, has entered mass production at the Finnish company’s Komarom plant in Hungary. According to a Hungarian site Tech2, the smartphone, previously called Normandy, entered production a few weeks ago. The Komarom plant saw significant job cuts under the company’s workforce reduction plan announced in 2012.
Nokia X to have a forked version of Android
Tech2 claimed that the Komarom plant is producing Nokia X in multiple colors. Earlier reports suggested that the device will come in six different colors. The site added that the Nokia X will not have Play Store, and won’t support any of Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) services. That’s in line with our reports that Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (HEL:NOK1V) has shipped its upcoming Android device to Indian app developers. Unlike most other Android smartphones, Nokia X won’t have Google Maps, Google Search, etc. These services will be replaced by Bing search, Outlook, Here maps and Skype. That’s because the company has forked Android for the Normandy program.
Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (HEL:NOK1V) is reportedly developing its own app store codenamed Asha on Linux (AoL). The rumor mill claimed that the company has already negotiated the top 100 apps in Play Store of its own store. Nokia X will be a low-cost smartphone, occupying the space between Ash and Lumia. It is likely to be priced at around $110. The pricing suggests that the device will be sold mainly in emerging markets where Nokia still enjoys strong penetration.
Nokia teases MWC release for ‘X’
Nokia X is anticipated to feature a 4-inch TFT display, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal memory, 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 chip, 1500mAh battery, dual-SIM functionality and 5MP main camera. A Vietnamese e-commerce platform recently displayed the smartphone on its listing page, suggesting that Vietnam might be among the first countries to release Nokia X.
Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (HEL:NOK1V) recently started a countdown page for the Mobile World Congress on its Conversations blog. The countdown page clearly bears the “X” mark. The company is speculated to launch the device at MWC next week.
Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (HEL:NOK1V) shares jumped 1.23% to $7.40 at 1:47 PM EST on Friday.
