Nokia is reportedly releasing its first Android-based smartphone this month, set to launch at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona starting on Feb. 24.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Nokia engineers have been developing the Android phone since before the company was acquired by Microsoft for US$7.2 billion last September.
(Related: Microsoft finalizes Nokia acquisition, thwarting Finnish attempt to halt deal)
The device is a low-end smartphone targeting emerging markets, and will not include several standard Android phone features such as access to the Google Play Store. Instead the smartphone will come installed with digital services created by Nokia and Microsoft, including a Nokia app store, the Here mapping service, and the MixRadio streaming music service.
Neither Microsoft nor Google has officially commented on the report.
