It has not been long time that since Google promised in its I/O event this year, to launch the Android One project very soon, and it has fulfilled its promise by launching the project today in India. Target for the budget users, the Android One phones have almost all basic facilities with stock Android, low price and guaranteed update.
For the first stage, Google will collaborate with Micromax, Spice and Karbonn to provide the smartphones coming under Android One in India. With the tagline “Apni Kismat Apne Haath” which translates in English as “Your luck is in your own hands”, the three smartphone vendors will provide the stock Android experience to the users. Yesterday only, Spice Android One Dream was leaked through Flipkart, which has 4.5-inch FWVGA display, 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek CPU, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal memory, microSD up to 32 GB, dual-SIM connectivity, 5 MP camera with LED flash, 2 MP front shooter, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and 3G connectivity along with a 1700 mAh battery, all these with a price tag of Rs. 6,999 ($115). However, after the official launch, the price was revised to be cheaper, among which Dream UNO is the cheapest at INR6,299 ($103), while the Sparkle V costs INR6,399 ($105) and the Canvas A1 costs INR6,499 ($106). With the tagline “Apni Kismat Apne Haath” which translates in English as “Your luck is in your own hands”, the three smartphone vendors will provide the stock Android experience to the users. Though these will not be completely bloatware free, these will get very quick updates, and have come with a guarantee to be upgraded to Android L.
Google says it plans to expand Android One to Indonesia, Phillippines and other South Asian countries by the end of 2014 and in more countries in 2015, subsequently after its first project of Android One in India. And in the future, the big International smartphone vendors like Alcatel, Panasonic, Asus, Acer and HTC are also said to support the Android One project of Google, except Sony, LG and Samsung.
