Android Market Too Big to Ignore so Nokia Debuts Nokia X Android Platform

Microsoft might own Nokia, but Android rules for mobile apps (sorry Apple) and thus Nokia has debuted new smartphones running the Nokia X software platform based on the Android Open Source Project.

Nokia’s recent announcement included a number of new details, which made it somewhat confusing unless you paid close attention, which we did. The Android OS is obviously the most ground shaking, consider its relationship with Microsoft, but much of the announcement was meant to soften this move to the dark side.

Consider this quote: "Today Windows Phone is the fastest growing mobile ecosystem in the world, and we continue to see incredible momentum with our Lumia smartphones," said Bryan Biniak, Vice President and General Manager, Developer Experience at Nokia. "Now, with the introduction of the Nokia X family of devices, we're delivering the same design, quality and innovation Nokia is known to lower price points to capture the fastest-growing segment of the smartphone market."

See, Windows is great. And the Android based phones are really no more than a necessary affordable alternative. If only…

The Android strategy makes sense as the company continues in the announcement by touting its billing agreements in more than 60 markets and with more than 160 operators, emphasizing that it provides developers with access to one of the largest mobile operator billing network in the world, offering the scale and global reach needed to successfully monetize their apps and generate higher revenues.

And consider this quote: "The reach of Nokia's operator billing network provides developers with a powerful revenue driver - up to five times that of credit-card billing offered within other platforms," said Amit Patel, Vice President, Developer Relations at Nokia. "Combined with Nokia In-App Payment, developers have the freedom to build on the model that works best for them."

So maybe all of those Android users would just as soon route there cash through the Nokia Android Store. And Nokia is also touting that the vast majority of Android apps can be published to the Nokia Store as is. For those that require modifications, they offer a Nokia X analyzer tool that they say will significantly reduces porting time by identifying the required changes. 

And they have been busy getting Android apps people want including Facebook, LINE Free Voice and Messages, LINE Camera, LINE Bubble, Picsart, Plants vs. Zombies 2, Real Football 2014, Skype, Spotify, Swiftkey, Twitter, Viber, Vine and WeChat, among others. 

And even BBM will be available on the Nokia X family of devices in addition to Windows Phone. And showing how important BBM is to Blackberry, the Nokia announcement includes this quote: "BBM continues to provide a best-in-class mobile messaging platform with productivity, collaboration and community-building as cornerstones," said David Proulx, Senior Director, BBM at BlackBerry. "We continue to see great enthusiasm for the BBM experience around the globe and we are thrilled to work with Nokia to preload BBM on devices beginning with Nokia X in select markets. We welcome Nokia X users to the BBM community."

And Windows has not been left in the cold, although much farther down the announcement with this statement: Developer innovation on Nokia Lumia continues, which reflects Windows Phone's status as the fastest-growing mobile ecosystem in the world…leading partners, including Adobe Photoshop Express, Facetune and JUSP will soon launch for Windows Phone - joining other must-have apps and games including Instagram, Vine, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Subway Surfers, among others that have recently launched.

Also the company announced Adobe's Photoshop Express app, already available on Windows 8, is coming to Windows Phone later this year to allow consumers to edit easily across Windows PCs, tablets and smartphones. European mobile payment provider JUSP will launch across Windows PCs, tablets and smartphones in the coming weeks.

Built on the technology that powers Nokia's own imaging apps like Nokia Storyteller and Nokia Camera, Nokia introduces an update to the latest Nokia Imaging SDK - version 1.1. Nokia's Imaging SDK 1.1 brings new image editing features to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8.1 tablets and PCs. Developers can now utilize the capabilities of the SDK to deliver a converged Windows app experience across any Windows Phone 8 device, such as the Lumia 1020 and 1520, as well as the Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet.

The Imagin8 Mission competition further encourages developers registered with DVLUP to create innovative imaging apps. Among many prizes, the developer of the best new or updated app will win a trip to experience zero gravity with the ZERO-G Corporation.

Nokia now offers merchandising slots in 181 countries to its key partners through the Nokia Developer Exchange Marketplace. This new offer represents an expansion of the Campaign feature introduced in October 2013 for DVLUP, Nokia's rewards program for developers. Inaugural partners participating in the exchange include Electronic Arts, Gameloft, AE Mobile, Miniclip and Outfit7.

The Nokia X, Nokia X+ and Nokia XL are priced to capture the fast-growing affordable smartphone market and provide an on-ramp to Lumia and Microsoft services like Skype, OneDrive and outlook.com.

The, the Nokia X comes with a 4" IPS capacitive display and 3MP camera. The Nokia X+ offers more memory and storage. Both the Nokia X and Nokia X+ will be available in bright green, bright red, cyan, yellow, black and white. The Nokia XL has a 5" display with 2MP front-facing camera and a 5MP rear-facing, autofocus camera with flash. The Nokia XL will be available in bright green, orange, cyan, yellow, black and white. All are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon dual core processor and supports Dual SIM, letting people switch SIM cards.

The Nokia X will go on sale immediately, starting at EUR 89 and rolling-out in Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The Nokia X+ and Nokia XL are expected to roll out in these markets starting early second quarter, priced at EUR 99 and EUR 109, respectively.

Adding to the Asha range of devices, the Nokia Asha 230 is an introduction to full-touch mobile phones. With a forthcoming software update, the Nokia Asha 230 will introduce 7GB of free cloud storage on Microsoft OneDrive, and the option to automatically back up photos to the cloud. Priced at just EUR 45, the Nokia Asha 230 is the most affordable Asha touch device. Available in single and Dual SIM variants, it will start rolling out immediately across Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

Nokia also introduced its Nokia 220, its lowest-priced, data-enabled phone. Offering a 2.4" color screen, dust- and splash-proof keypad, it offers Facebook and Twitter pre-loaded and Bing as the default search engine in the pre-loaded Nokia Xpress browser. Retail prices for the Nokia 220 start at EUR 29. It will be available for sale immediately in single and Dual SIM variants and rolling-out in Asia-Pacific, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

To check out the full announcement, click on the link below.