<i>> To help ensure a consistent experience, Android One devices will receive the latest versions of Android directly from Google. So you’ll get all the latest features, up-to-date security patches, and peace of mind knowing your stuff is always backed up.</i><p>This rings a bitter note for me -- I bought a Galaxy Nexus a while after it came out and I was really surprised how quickly Google discontinued updates for it. Is it expected that "the next five billion" will also buy a new phone every two years?<p>To quote Google:<p><i>> Galaxy Nexus, which first launched two years ago, falls outside of the 18-month update window when Google and others traditionally update devices.</i><p>(I still own the phone and I have the latest Android because of Cyanogenmod, but again, this is not something that can be recommended to "the next five billion".)
I live in Africa. When is it coming here? I'd love to have a cheap, supported android phone.<p>Most affordable android phones here are "tecno" (chinese samsung knockoffs), but it's notably hard to flash since not many people with the know-how own any.<p>By the way, if you <i>do</i> have the know-how to port i.e. cyanogenmod to a new device please get in touch - I'll be glad to send you a few handsets, and you'd make loads of people in developing countries a solid :)
Not really a fan of Google negotiating unmetered access for Android to cellular data like this. I think Google/Apple/BlackBerry/Windows Phone/Xiaomi/random OEM should all have equal access to cellular data and let the user choose.
It's remarkable how much of an effort they're making to hide the screen resolution (which I suppose may vary depending on manufacturer, but doesn't appear to be part of the required spec?). The only one I could find was for the "KARBONN ANDROID ONE SPARKLE V BLUE" which is FWVGA 480*854 pixels.
Colour me skeptical. The biggest problem, as I see, with all these phones is the obsoletion rate of software. If they had pledged to do their best to keep the platform running on the oldest of Android phones, all those phones would immediately be given away or sold cheaply to poor people. They don't need to port all bells and whistles to each of their previous platforms, just the minimum required to keep simple apps (not games, not multimedia) running across all devices. I have a few such "obsolete" devices myself. The only thing wrong with the hardware is that their easily replaced batteries are dead. I'd certainly give them away if they could be of much use now.
Feature phones are still the reality in a large swathe of rural India. Cheaper android phones will definitely help change that situation.
I wished that android one phones came with free 2-3 months of 2G packs so that millions of people could have their first taste of 'Internet'.
Believe it or not the biggest barrier to adoption in those countries is not income per se as the middle class has been growing for over a decade, but trade barriers and import tariffs that make even the cheapest phone ridiculously expensive by western standards.<p>Compare the prices of some Chinese android phones in their home market with the prices in India. A Gionee model that went for around $230 in China sells for nearly $400 in India, almost twice the price. And is not as if the Chinese don't pay any taxes.
The three phones are:<p>* <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/spice-android-one-dream-uno-mi-498/p/itmdzuakgnatgyzs" rel="nofollow">http://www.flipkart.com/spice-android-one-dream-uno-mi-498/p...</a><p>* <a href="http://www.amazon.in/dp/B00NEFFWF6" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.in/dp/B00NEFFWF6</a>?<p>* <a href="http://www.snapdeal.com/product/karbonn-android-one-blue/1938355391" rel="nofollow">http://www.snapdeal.com/product/karbonn-android-one-blue/193...</a><p>Almost the exact same specs on all three phones.
>lots of processing power<p>>expandable storage<p>>dual SIM cards<p>>replaceable battery<p>I wish we could get a phone like that in the first world...<p>Shame the One's specs are actually very weak...[1]<p>[1]<a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/android-one-smartphones-launched-price-specs-where-buy-much-more-1465482" rel="nofollow">http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/android-one-smartphones-launched-pr...</a> - TBFH google should be hit for false advertising calling that CPU/memory combo 'lots of processing power'. Lots in 2003, maybe.
Expandable memory and changeable batteries--these are features Google's been removing from its flagship Nexus phones, much to the consternation of those like myself who want modularity, flexibility, and open design. FM radio would be nice to have, as well. "Everything is in the Cloud" is a pipe dream. One can only hope that this South Asia phone is a worldwide trend and not just a concession to 3rd world shortages of data connections.
The most interesting thing is to see the presence of micro-SD cards, and the tacit acknowledgement that a lot of the world actually needs this kind of thing as the network isn't good enough. Let's hope this means the Nexus line get that.
This will nip in the bud whatever traction Microsoft was getting in India with Windows Phone.<p>Between this and losing the Nokia name, it's difficult to see why many Indian consumers would opt for a "Microsoft Lumia" over one of these high quality low cost devices that come with the vastly richer Android ecosystem.
I swear I've heard this messaging before...<p><a href="http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/02/11/mobile-phones-the-next-billion/" rel="nofollow">http://conversations.nokia.com/2011/02/11/mobile-phones-the-...</a>
The specs for these phones are basically somewhere between that of the Moto E and Moto G with removable battery. No reason it shouldn't be below $50 in a few years.
does anyone know if Google will release source for Android One phones to the same level as Nexus ? I have heard that Mediatek is notoriously closed source, so I'm wondering how this works out for the community/cyanogenmod at large
Fascinating. Barely noticed in the enthusiasm around the Apple Watch and Pay was the fact that Apple discontinued the idea of a "cheap" iPhone as a unique product. Apple will be the brand of the elite via $350 watches and Android wants to be the product of the masses.
apart from the moto e, what other cheap smartphones are already available in the west ?<p>I don't have a smartphone, but I don't want to spend a lot on one.
YES! Let's get the next five billion messaging, emailing and browsing through the systems of one company. This will be great for freedom, privacy and competition!
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