The launch of Android One is about more than just getting Android phones into India.
The effort debuts today as phones go on sale for around $105. If it proves successful, it could be a model for how will approach Android smartphone development updates both abroad in the United States.
th Android One, is parterning with regional brs to build near-stock Android phones at a cost more accessible to the average Indian customer. One goal, of course, is to gain millions of converts to the Android ecosystem is by reaching a market where most have yet to buy a smartphone. The phones get software updates directly from , which the company hopes will avoid the fragmentation that has plagued Android in the U.S.
is working with regional hset makers Micromax, Karbonn, Spice chipmaker Tek for the phones in India. HTC, Asus, novo, other larger hardware makers are now joining the effort, according to a blog post from ‘s Vice esident for Android, Chrome, apps, Sundar chai.
He also said the phones would be “some of the first” to be updated to Android later this year. The company is not stopping with India – also plans to bring its effort to Indonesia, the pines, south Asia, “many more countries” in 2015.
Given the sometimes painful delays that hardware makers carriers have placed on updates in the U.S., this could mean that $100 smartphones in the developing world could get the latest version of Android before flagship devices here.
Additionally, the tight partnership control over Android indicates that is looking to change the current formula that has made the update process frustrating for consumers.
is rumored to be working on a project known as Android Silver, which would, similar to Android One, see the company work more closely with manufacturers carriers, yield more control over Android installation updates.
The company has already taken that approach with Android ar, as watchmakers have little leeway in how the wearable operating system looks performs. is hoping the tradeoff will mean a better experience fewer customers stuck with an old version of Android.
