Google has unveiled the first smartphone on its new platform Android One, designed for low-end phones. Beginning has been made in India, where the company Micromax, Spice and Karbonn are now selling these devices.
Karbonn, in particular, introduced the Sparkle V Red with a screen diagonal of 4.5 inches and a resolution of 480 x 845 pixels, 1 GB of RAM, a 4-core processor with a frequency of 1.3 GHz, dual-slot SIM-cards, 5 megapixel camera, support for microSD memory card and FM-radio. Phones cost $ 105 offer support for multiple languages, including Hindi. The products are sold through online outlets: respectively Snapdeal, Flipkart and Amazon India.
Google, in partnership with mobile operators offered special tariff plans for users of Android One. So, Airtel subscribers will be free to download updates Android-platform, as well as a 200-MB volume of applications per month.
Not to say that the Android platform was not there before the cheaper models, but Google wants to give them a more unified user interface and functionality. Here we will use version of the Stock Android 4.4.4 KitKat without modifications by the manufacturer, so that the system updates itself will control Google. Such a strategy has already been tested by the development of more expensive devices and versions of Nexus flagship smartphone Google Play.
India is the second largest mobile market in the world, with up to saturation are far away, so that the interest of producers in it only grows. Companies like Micromax, let it also aids in the Windows Phone. As for Android One, after India devices on this system will be sold in the countries of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia. In the future, the program will join Android One type vendors Acer, Alcatel, Asus, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic and Xolo. In addition, connect Qualcomm, which will deliver mobile processors.