A Nokia phone dubbed the Catwalk was unveiled at Mobile World Conference in a private session last week, a blogger has reported.
The blogger, a Russian citizen by the name of Eldar Murtazin, claims that Nokia is releasing the device as an improved version of the Lumia 920. Murtazin is the same person who leaked the Nokia N8, posting it and later running into trouble with Nokia regarding his comments on the device. Nokia even went to Russian authorities to get back its prototype.
In terms of hardware, the much-hyped Catwalk will be essentially the same as the Lumia 920. Improvements will be evident in the design, where Nokia will be implementing a slender, aluminum body as well as a slimmer version of the PureView Phase 2 camera featured in the 920. It will also most likely be lighter than the 920.
The one gripe shared by those who saw the device? It uses Windows Phone instead of Android.
"Oh, Windows Phone, why are you not Android?" said many of those shown the device, according to Murtazin.
"There is Windows Phone inside," Murtazin himself said, "it did not change and it spoils all of the fun."
The complaints, however, don't seem to make much sense, given that the entire Lumia lineup runs Windows Phone. In fact, Nokia doesn't even make any Android phones. Some have suggested that the company might be considering Android but CEO Stephen Elop has denied these rumors. Although Windows Phone remains a comparatively small player in the market, Nokia isn't showing any real signs of switching to a different OS.
Those interested in the device may not have to wait long, with T-Mobile planning to release it this summer. Verizon plans to release its own version, codenamed Laser. Other rumors state, however, that the devices may not be available until next winter.
If you're willing to go with a Windows Phone device, then the Catwalk could be for you. As Murtazin claims, it could be one of the most popular smartphones of the year.
(Edited by Lois Heyman)
