Google officially launched the Android One platform in India, with devices from Karbonn, Micromax, and Spice available today. The purpose behind Android One is to bring an Android device running the latest version of the software with entry-level hardware, together to produce an affordable smartphone.
Right now, the Android One devices are available in India through different e-commerce websites. Micromax’s Canvas A1 will be available through Amazon India, Karbonn’s Sparkle V Red on SnapDeal, while the Spice Android One Dream Uno will be available on FlipKart. All three devices have the same specs: Android 4.4 KitKat, 4.5” FWVGA display, Cortex A7 1.3 GHz Quad-Core processor, 5MP camera with 2MP front facing camera, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage (expandable up to 32GB), Dual microSIM, and 1700 mAh battery. Google promises that all these Android One smartphones will receive the Android L update as well.
However, all of them have the same specs but they have different prices. The Karboon version is available for Rs 6,399; Micromax is for Rs 6,499, while the Spice Dream Uno for Rs. 6,299 on Flipkart is the cheapest Android One device available right now.
Android One was introduced during the Google I/O in June and with the help of it, Google is looking forward to get a huge chunk of smartphone share in emerging markets. As we reported yesterday, Android One will be really user friendly for Indian users, because it will have a lot of features in the Hindi language, and also 40% population of India lists Hindi as their first language. The slogan for Android One in India is “Apni Kismat Apne Haath”, which means “Your fate in your hands.”
Google also teamed up with Acer, Alcatel Onetouch, ASUS, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic, Xolo, and chipmaker Qualcomm, so users can expect an Android One device from the mentioned manufacturers. Also Google is targeting other emerging markets as well, as they are planning to release Android One phones in Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka by the end of the year, and more countries to come in 2015.
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