Nokia hoping for the 'X Factor' with new Android phone

Hoping for the ‘X Factor’ and a boost in mobile phone sales Nokia has ditched its favoured Windows operating system in a range of new mobiles.

The companies X range will be priced between 89 and 109 euros.

Analysts have called the announcement a “perplexing strategic move.”

Euronews correspondent Claudio Rocco reports from the launch in Spain.

“Its a real revolution here at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress. Nokia has launched an Android phone. But why did the company decide to adopt the operating system already employed by its rivals?”

Low cost Android phones are dominating sales. Nokia’s chief executive Stephen Elop outlined the move saying the market had “shifted dramatically” and the group needed to address the sub 100 dollar market which is set to grow four times faster than more expensive phones.

Global smartphone shipments almost touched the one billion unit mark last year with Android pones from dozens of handset makers accounting for almost four out of every five sold.

Apple was second – their market share around 15 percent while Microsoft was a distant third.

Despite the launch of the X range Nokia says the high end Lumia with its Windows operating system remains its primary smartphone platform

Microsoft is set to buy Nokia’s mobile phone business in a deal worth 5.4 billion euros expected to be completed in a few days.