Nokia Goldfinger and Moneypenny to be Windows Phone Blue devices?

Microsoft Windows Phone 8 GDR3

Remember those Nokia device codenames we saw earlier this week? Information is already starting to emerge about some of these. According to @evleaks, the Nokia Goldfinger and Moneypenny could be the first Windows Phone Blue devices to be launched.

Windows Phone Blue, also known as Windows Phone 8.1, is expected to be the next version of the Windows Phone mobile operating system from Microsoft. Among the features expected are more improvements to multitasking, a new notification center that will have more in common with Android’s, including interative notifications and Cortana, Microsoft’s version of Google Now and Siri. The Back button could also disappear from the Windows Phone hardware specification with 8.1.

As already reported, Windows Phone 8.1 could also bring further “API unity” with Windows RT, getting us closer to the promise of universal binaries. Microsoft’s goal is to have a single app run on both Windows Phone and Windows RT without the need for any modification or recompiling.

As for the Nokia Goldfinger and Moneypenny, little else is known at this time but we expect new rumours to shed more light on these devices.

Windows Phone Blue is due in 2014.

Update: A second tweet adds a few more details about Nokia’s plans. Goldfinger could come with some sort of 3D touch technology. Nokia could also be planning a new imaging flagship, presumably to succeed the Lumia 1020, and another that would feature a Siri-like assistant. That last sounds like Microsoft’s Cortana unless Nokia is working on something similar as well.

2014 could be an exciting year for Nokia whether as part of Microsoft or on its own if the acquisition falls through for some some reason.