Nokia’s first Android device, the Nokia X is now official in India, one of the key target markets of the device which looks forward to introducing the low end user to Microsoft’s suit of app and services and eventually suck them into the Microsoft ecosystem by using the free Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code which gives it access to a wider selection of applications that would be appealing to most budget minded buyers who would otherwise go for other cheap Android devices.
The Nokia X, launched at MWC two weeks ago, has dual-SIM support and is expected to launch in various emerging markets at a cost of 89 Euros with buyers having a wider selection to choose from including the X’s sibling, the X+ and the much larger XL. You can check specifications of the Nokia X and X+ here and the Nokia XL here.
Nokia has partnered with Facebook, LINE Messenger, Picsart, Plants vs. Zombies 2, Real Football 2014, Skype, Spotify, Swiftkey, Twitter, Viber, Vine, WeChat, TrueCaller to provide those apps readily to users of the device from the Nokia Store. Of course advanced users can go ahead and do away with the Windows Phone tile-inspired interface by rooting and installing GAPPs (Google apps) and a launcher of their choice or sideloading the same without root access.
The Nokia X goes for Rs. 8,599. Buyers of the device get 10 GB worth of free storage from Nokia on Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud service and some more goodies from Microsoft in the form of free Skype credit for a month of unlimited calls to mobile phones and landlines.
The Indian launch means that we should see the Nokia X and its siblings show up in Kenya and other emerging markets soon.
Below is a hands-on video of the device we shared earlier:
