Google’s Android One plan is all about bringing Android to markets where purchasing power for new smartphones is not that high, with the program the company partners with OEMs to create very competitively priced smartphones that run on its mobile platform. Google managing director for Southeast Asia Rajan Anandan says that the company is going to unveil a new plan for Android One in the next few weeks, this time around it’s aiming to hit the “sweet spot” of smartphones priced at $50.
The price point will bring Android quite close to the feature phone territory which tend to cost around $20-$30 in emerging markets, such cheap smartphones will greatly help Google’s aim to grab the next billion Android users.
While Google doesn’t make any of the hardware that’s sold through the Android One program the company does provide OEMs with a set of hardware standards which they have to adhere to, so in a way Google can control both the hardware and software experience of these low-cost devices.
Anandan tells The Financial Times that while Android One has not delivered as per the company’s expectations Google is “very committed” to this program, and it will have a new wave of handsets to show us in the next few weeks.
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