Nokia to announce Android smartphone

Nokia is reportedly developing an Android-based handset that will be announced in September at the Nokia World Conference.

If the reports are accurate it would mean a massive change of direction for the Finnish giant who took full control of Symbian last year – in what was thought to be a direct response to the threat of Android to its huge market share.

Although Nokia are the world’s most successful company in terms of mobile handsets sold – their dominance in the smartphone market appears to be waning. A global share of 47% in 2007 was down to 31% at the end of 2008.

Nokia’s partnership with Intel, which we reported last month, and the possibility of Android-based handsets could spell exciting times for Nokia. We really like their latest smartphone offering, the N97, although it still doesn’t really come close to threatening the iPhone 3GS’s dominance. A Nokia smartphone with Android could really give Apple something to worry about though.

What this means for the much berated Ovi store is anybody’s guess.

(via The Guardian)

Update: Nokia’s people are denying this story and are keen to stress that Symbian is their platform of choice for smartphones. It will be interesting to see what is announced in September.

Dan’s review of the Nokia N97: