Nokia unveils line of low-cost, Android-powered smartphones

Nokia announced three low-cost smartphones that run the Google Android operating system.

In recent years, Nokia primarily powered its smartphones with the Windows Phone operating system, but limitations of that platform prevented the phone maker from building low-priced, entry-level devices.

Nokia changed that Monday by introducing the Nokia X line, which includes the Nokia X, the Nokia X+ and the Nokia XL. The devices will be available for 89, 99 and 109 euros, respectively, or about $122, $135 and $150, all before any carrier subsidies.

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The Nokia X comes with a 4-inch screen, 512 megabytes of RAM and a 3-megapixel camera. The Nokia X+ also includes a 4-inch screen and 3-megapixel camera, but it has 768 megabytes of RAM and comes with a 4-gigabyte MicroSD card. The Nokia XL has a 5-inch screen, 768 megabytes of RAM, a 4-gigabyte MicroSD card and a 5-megapixel camera. All three use a 1-gigahertz Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core processor.

Each model will be available in numerous color options.

Nokia posted a YouTube video promoting the new line.

The devices are powered by Android, but Nokia designed the three smartphones to maintain a Windows Phone feel. The interface of the Nokia X line mimics that of Windows Phone and includes numerous apps that are available only through Nokia and Microsoft, including Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage, Nokia MixRadio and Skype. Users will be able to download Android apps through the Nokia Store.

The Nokia X will be available for purchase immediately in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa. The Nokia X+ and the Nokia XL will go on sale in those markets in the second quarter. No word on when the devices will be available in the U.S.

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