Telecom
Nokia Finally Goes Full Android with Range of Phones
Three years after announcing that Nokia would jump ship to Microsoft’s Windows Phone software instead of Google’s Android software, Stephen Elop, executive vice president got on stage at the Mobile World Congress trade fair on Monday to announce a new line of mobile phones that run a modified version of Android.
The decision to come out with a new line of phones, the Nokia X, X+ and X, based on Android comes days ahead of Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia.
According to Elop, as reported by The Hindu, the market has “shifted dramatically” and the company needs to quickly address the sub-$100 category of mobile phones in “growth markets.”.
According to analysts, this is Nokia’s submission of the fact that buyers of low-end mobile phones in countries like India prefer an Android-based operating system over anything else.
“The X family serves a specific purpose – it is a feeder system into our Lumia line of smartphones. It also addresses the gap between Asha and Lumia,” Elop said, while addressing reporters here on Monday.
The three new models rely on an open version of the Android operating system and come bundled with Nokia’ and Microsoft’s services– avoiding dependence on Google’s services.
For instance, by using an open version of Android, Nokia doesn’t depend on the Google Play app store– it uses its own app store along with a host of other app store.
It will also bundle the X range with its own music and map offerings along with Microsoft’s e-mail, cloud, messaging and search services.
The Nokia X and X+, which will be released soon in Eastern Asia and Southeast Asia, are priced at 89 and 99 euros respectively.
The Nokia XL, which has a bigger five inch screen, is priced at 109 euros. The specific launch dates were not disclosed.
When asked if he had “jumped ship” the wrong way with Windows Phone software three years ago, Elop replied in the negative.
“There were quite a lot of vendors… who went with Android but couldn’t differentiate. What we are doing here is simple… we’re building a third ecosystem along with Microsoft. We don’t mind if there’s overlap with our other devices,” Elop said.
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief Enterprise business officer, MTN Nigeria, has assured the network subscribers that the new end-user billing system for the use of USSD services will jot affect them.
USSD, otherwise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes are commonly used for banking transactions, airtime recharges, and other mobile services.
The telco said that there is no significant impact or change other than the fact that they will now pay the same N6.98 per session (120 seconds) with their airtime instead of direct bank debit.
Saint-Nwafor, said this during a chat with MTN MIP fellows, explaining that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered telecom operators to ensure that the new billing model resolves trust issues and ensures transparency in the billing process.
“Our regulator insisted that at the end of every month, we are going to be providing history and statistics on the performance of the service across the board”, she explained.
Saint-Nwafor added that the new billing model has standardized messaging across all operators and ensures consistent communication with customers.
“We will take all the error codes and map them into messages that are standardised across the board. So, if you initiate a transaction, you will know if it is failing. And, when the transaction fails, you will know if it is from your bank or the telco,” she explained.
The U.S. government has recovered $225 million in what is now the largest seizure of funds linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam.
In a statement released Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the recovery followed an extensive investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, using blockchain analysis and other forensic tools. The statement did not confirm whether any arrests had been made.
According to the authorities, the stolen funds originated from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes that tricked victims into believing they were making legitimate investments. More than 400 individuals around the world, including dozens in the United States, were reportedly affected.
The operation involved a sophisticated money laundering network that carried out hundreds of thousands of blockchain transactions to obscure the source and ownership of the stolen assets.
“These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,” said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service office in San Francisco.
Bradstreet added that U.S. officials hope the recovered funds can eventually be returned to the rightful victims.
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for over $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, according to the statement.
In a rousing declaration that is electrifying minds across the continent, Hon. Nnaemeka Ani, Special Adviser on ICT to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for a homegrown digital revolution under the banner “Africa Will Rise: By Code, By Courage, By Us.”
Hon. Nnaemeka Ani
The message, part challenge, part philosophical—seeks to galvanize African innovators to move beyond buzzwords and build technology with impact and legacy in mind.
“Let’s stop building for hype. Let’s start building for legacy,” Ani urged while speaking to ICT journalists over the weekend. “Let’s stop waiting for someone else. Let’s start creating the future—on our own terms.”
At the heart of Ani’s vision is a shift from tech consumerism to tech authorship. With innovation hubs sprouting across cities like Enugu, Lagos, Kigali, Jo’Burg, and Nairobi, and a growing community of developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs determined to solve Africa’s unique challenges, the movement is already taking shape.
Ani emphasized that Africa’s future lies not in flashy apps or international admiration but in persistent, intentional solutions that uplift communities—solutions that digitize public services, bridge rural-urban divides, empower women and youth, and build resilience in food and climate systems.
“We have the talent,” he said. “Now it’s time to harness it—to stop building for likes and start building for lasting impact.”
With support from leaders like Ani and rising momentum in Africa’s tech corridors, it seems that a new chapter is being written—one line of code at a time.
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