Google has launched the first family of Android One phones in India, saying the move is part of a "larger initiative to bring high-quality smartphones to as many people as possible."Android One devices will ship with support for more languages, including Hindi, and feature more local publications in Google Play Newsstand. Google is also making a special version of YouTube available which will allow Indian users to download videos and re-watch them multiple times without incurring excessive data charges. The first phones are expected to retail for 6399 rupees ($105).
The search giant announced the first Android One smartphones - the Karbonn Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1, and Spice Dream Uno - will be available from their respective online retail partners in India from 3:30pm on Monday, with physical retail store availability in early October.
The Karbonn Sparkle V will be available in Magnum Blue, Mild Grey, Wild Red and Pearl White colour variants exclusively via Snapdeal at Rs. 6,399, and the Spice Dream Uno will be available in Black and White colour variants exclusively via at Flipkart at Rs. 6,299. The Micromax Canvas A1 will be available in Black and White colour variants exclusively via Amazon, priced at Rs. 6,499.
In terms of specifications, all three phones are based on Google's reference design, and as such are pretty much identical. All three have a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution IPS display, MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage space with microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio, dual SIM support, and replaceable 1,700mAh battery. The only differences will be in the design and minor software enhancements.
Google will also have Wi-Fi-equipped mobile demo trucks called 'Showroom on Wheels' in 600 locations across 20 cities to allow potential consumers to experience the Android One phones. Google has also appointed 30,000 Android One ambassadors who will spread the word about the phones.
Indian customers on carrier Airtel will be able to download software updates, including the upcoming Android L release, for the first six months of ownership. Google and Airtel are also offering 200MB of data a month on top of the regular cap for downloading apps from the Play store.
Sundar Pichai, the Google executive who heads Chrome and Android divisions at the company, said the Android Devices will get direct software updates from Google and will get early access to Android updates just like Nexus devices. However, Pichai said that Google will not pump in any marketing money and will not support OEMs to market the phone. He informed that Acer, Alcatel, Asus, HTC, Intex, Lava, Panasonic, Lenovo, Xolo and Qualcomm are also joining the Android One programme. The first three Android One phones include Spice Android One Dream UNO Mi-498 phone, priced at Rs 6,299.
India is the second biggest mobile market in the world, but hasn't yet achieved strong smartphone penetration. As such, it's a major growth opportunity for the likes of Google and Microsoft, which has achieved some success in certain parts of the world with its low-cost Nokia Lumia Windows Phone handsets. Handset makers like Micromax are also producing cheap Windows Phone devices, but with Android One, Google may have found a way to provide a consistent experience on the world's most prevalent mobile ecosystem to a whole new audience.