Earlier this summer at Google I/O the company announced its Android One program. Its goal is to generate high quality but inexpensive Android Phones for developing markets. Target pricing is roughly $100 without a contract.
The first Android One devices are now rolling out in India. Google intends to bring them to Indonesia, the Philippines and various countries in South Asia later this year and more countries in 2015.
These markets represent hundreds of millions — if not billions — of users, phones and revenues over time. For many of these users the mobile internet will be the only internet they know or ever use.
Android One is like the Nexus program but for the low end. Google mandates that certain specifications be met under the program. The BBC succinctly summarizes them:
4.5in (11.4cm) display
1GB of RAM (random-access memory)
5MP rear camera and a 2MP front one
Quadcore processor sourced from Taiwanese company Mediatek
Users will get the latest versions of Android directly from Google. The company will also subsidize a certain number of app downloads in India, its first Android One market:
In an effort to reduce data costs, if you have an Airtel SIM card, you’ll get these software updates for free for the first six months. As part of this same Airtel offer, you’ll also be able to download up to 200MB per month worth of your favorite apps (that’s about 50 apps overall) from Google Play—all without counting toward your mobile data usage.
Given their cost, specs and quality, these phones will be very attractive for people in India and other developing markets. It will thus cement Android’s near total control of those markets, where Apple doesn’t have a competing low-cost option and where Windows Phones haven’t gained traction.
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