ZTE to Release a Rugged Android Smartphone:

China's ZTE may be able to launch a rugged smartphone for the local market, according to photo leaks from a Chinese website.

The company is reported to have secured approval to sell the G601U, an Android smartphone that is clad in an impact absorbing rubber skin and sealed joints.

The specifications are modest for a new Android phone, coming with a 1.3Gh processor, a 4-inch screen and a display of just 800x480 pixels.

However, it also comes with a sizable battery that should provide a solid day of full use without recharging, which is often a more important utility on building sites where such devices might be signed out on a daily basis.

Nokia Normandy Smartphone Pictures Leaked:

What could well be a Nokia phone running on the Android OS has been pictured in the wild -- assuming it's not some sort of elaborate fake.

There have been rumours of what is code named the Nokia Normandy for about a month, with hints dropped that it could be a prototype Android smartphone with a Nokia specific user interface sitting on top.

Nokia had been rumoured to be playing with Android last year, but that was before the deal to sell the handsets division to Microsoft, who are unlikely to want to support a rival OS.

However, the device could be a tester for the rumoured option of a dual-boot smartphone that could run either Windows Phone or Android. Such smartphones are being talked about as Microsoft tries to expand the reach of its OS with Android loyal handset manufacturers.

Nokia does have form with developing products, then ditching them though, so at this moment, the Android smartphone could be nothing more than an engineering toy

Sony Mobile Launches Waterproof Smartphone in the USA:

Sony Mobile has shown off its new U.S. flagship Android smartphone, the waterproof Xperia Z1s, which will be sold exclusively by T-Mobile USA from later this month.

The Xperia Z1s has an IP58 rating, making the device Sony's first waterproof flagship smartphone in the USA.

It comes with a 20.7 megapixel camera, BIONZ for mobile image processing engine, and Sony G Lens as well as a 5-inch Full HD TRILUMINOS Display.

"As a waterproof smartphone complete with the best of Sony's technology, Xperia Z1s breaks the mold of not only what you can do with a smartphone, but where you can take it," said Ravi Nookala, President,Sony Mobile Communications U.S.

The internal power is supplied by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core 2.2 Ghz processor.

Tecno to Open Third Mobile Phone Factory in Ethiopia:

Hong Kong based Tecno Group has broken ground on its third phone assembly factory in Ethiopia.

The third factory will be based in the capital city, Addis Ababa within an ICT Park established by the government.

Tecno Mobile started operation in Ethiopia in 2009 and has currently employed about 400 workers. It is expected that the third factory will add a further 200 jobs.

It's first locally assembled Android smartphone with support for the Amharic language went on sale in July 2012.

Speaking on the ground breaking ceremony, Ethiopia's state Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Getachew Negash said besides other regulatory incentives, the current reform concerning value addition on technological products has attracted a number of assembly companies.