An Android One phone is rolling out courtesy of Lava in the next few months, and it’s the first one in India since Android Phone was introduced. Google is hoping for more phones to follow after its release.
Google had initially set out strict guidelines for Android One devices; the company wanted to carefully pick out which parts and which suppliers manufacturers would use to carry out the Android One project. This would guarantee a low-cost Android phone with Google services. But developments show that manufacturers thought this too limiting and not cost-efficient. Analysis reports say that only about 3 million devices are said to have shipped in total across the 19 countries that Android One was launched in.
Google aims to give Android One partners price flexibility, as well as low-cost parts and good features. But developments show that there is little different between the cost of making an Android Phone and making a regular Android phone, so there’s a big question on what the point of the Android One initiative. Thought the guarantee that they will have Google services is still an attractive feature for all parties, so hopefully once the phone starts to roll out in India, it’s only a slope upwards for Android One phones.
