The company is releasing an updated Android One device
Google’s Android One initiative is facing an uphill battle in territories they’ve launched in. While the goal – providing users with handsets that sport the latest version of the company’s OS – is lofty, the devices themselves aren’t mind blowing, especially in terms of specifications. The company is rumored to change all that with the launch of a new Android One device set to be announced on July 14, with a retail price of Rs. 12,000 or around Php 8.5K.
If you didn’t notice, the purported price point of the new Android One device is far from the sub 5K target of the first generation of handsets. The new breed of Android One devices is set to have 2GB of RAM and a 5-inch display, though other specs aren’t known as of the moment. MediaTek is still the major hardware provider of the new phone.
Lava, a major Indian smartphone vendor, is set to have more control over the new phone from its Chinese ODMs, which will impact how the phone is marketed and sold to the Indian public. The first generation of Android One phones sold in India were sold online, without a clear marketing push. Google has apparently learned from its mistake, and is set to launch the new device in both online and offline stores, with a big, 10 to 15 million dollar budget according to a source of India Times.
If successful, the new phone (and new strategy) may be rolled out in other markets where Android One is available, including the Philippines.
