Microsoft Rumoured To Be Preparing Android-Powered Nokia Lumia

Microsoft is apparently readying an Android-powered Lumia smartphone reports @evleaks, a Twitter account that has successfully leaked a number of popular devices in the past, in a move to shift more handsets.

“Big news: Android-powered Lumia incoming, from Nokia by Microsoft,” read the Tweet, with no other information provided by the tipster.

Adding strength to the claims is the fact that Nokia has launched a range of handsets that run a forked version of Android. The Nokia X was revealed at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in February, with the X2 making its debut last month.

Android Nokia Lumia

However Nokia X was conceived before the £4.6 billion takeover of the Finnish manufacturer had been completed, with the continuation of the project a surprise to many, given both companies’ promotion of Windows Phone.

Additionally, all of the Nokia X handsets to date have been mid-range devices, with Microsoft insisting that the Windows Phone-powered Lumia range remained the company’s “primary” smartphone offering.

However Microsoft may believe that a forked Android-powered Lumia smartphone could be more appealing to consumers thanks to its compatibility with Android applications while at the same time spreading the reach of services like Bing, Skype and Office.

Nokia Lumia 930 release date

It would however raise questions about the future of Windows Phone, whose market share has consistently lagged behind Android and iOS, despite some moderate success in Europe.

Nokia, or Microsoft Devices as it appears to be known for the time being, told TechWeekEurope it does not comment on rumour or speculation.

The company has revealed however that its new flagship Nokia Lumia 930 will be released in the UK on 17 July. The Windows Phone 8.1-powered device boasts a number of fitness and imaging features, along with a 20 megapixel PureView camera and wireless charging, all powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM.

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