Nokia apparently had Lumia smartphones running on Android in the works, but that was before Microsoft acquired most of the Finnish company.

Naturally, there are very slim chances now that those purported Nokia Lumia handsets running on Android would ever see the light of day, not with Microsoft having its own Windows Phone mobile operating system competing with Android.

Nokia and Microsoft have long had a special relationship and the Finnish company is the largest manufacturer of Windows Phone handsets. Nokia was once at the very top and the company still has plenty of fans and supporters, while its handsets are famous for their durability and quality.

Many consumers, however, would be more willing to purchase a Nokia smartphone if it ran on the more popular Android, and it seems that the concept was quite close to becoming reality.

"A team within Nokia had Android up and running on Lumia handsets," reports the New York Times. More specifically, those plans were in place before the company changed hands and became Microsoft property.

Nokia was reportedly not only discussing an Android device internally, but it also got down to business and created such smartphones. This could have put an end to the whole Microsoft-Nokia favoritism and the Finnish company would've broken loose from the Windows Phone ecosystem.

When Nokia decided to ditch the outdated Symbian operating system, it decided to dedicate itself to making only Windows Phone devices. The deal it had with Microsoft for Windows Phone would have expired in 2014, after which Nokia could do whatever it wanted - including adopting Android.

Microsoft's recent acquisition of most of Nokia makes even more sense now. Nokia wouldn't have spent time and resources toying with Android Lumia phones unless it had some serious intentions in this direction. Microsoft, meanwhile, would have lost its biggest ally for Windows Phone, and its most successful manufacturer. Other companies do make some WP devices, but they're not exclusively dedicated to Windows Phone like Nokia was.

In other words, those hoping to see an Android smartphone from Nokia will have to let go of that dream, as Microsoft will most likely never let that happen. Maybe Newkia can do something about it?