Google announces Android One program for budget smartphones

Sundar Pichai, Google's SVP for Android, Chrome and Apps, made some very interesting announcements at the I/O 2014 Keynote on Wednesday, of which perhaps the most exciting was the revelation of the Android One platform and its partners in emerging markets. The program will kick-off in India, with three partners - Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice, starting this 'fall'.

Pichai had added that while Android One will be launched around the world, it will be launched "in India first in the fall of this year."

“We’re working with partners on a comprehensive solution—which includes hardware reference platforms—to address the mobile computing needs of those in emerging markets. Android One will provide smartphones that are high quality, affordable and come with reasonable data plans,” Google explained in a blog post.

In an effort to help its OEM partners, who are forced to release a new smartphone every 9 months to stay ahead in the intensely competitive market, Google is releasing a new Android hardware and software reference platforms. This will help save OEMs money and time in design, choosing the right components and pushing their smartphones to the market.

It will also help Google and its partners push updates to Android devices, with optimised stock Android experiences being replaced by new ones. With OEMs using the Android One platform, Google will also be able to ensure a minimum set of standards for smartphones.

The Android One phones will come with stock Android, localised applications from Google Play and automatic Android updates directly from Google. No more running around the manufacturers to get the Android version updates.

Google noted that it has partnered with Indian smartphone vendors Micromax, Spice and Karbonn to bring the first Android One smartphones. These phones will be released in the country this fall and will carry price-tag around $100. Other countries will follow later.

Android boss Sundar Pichai also gave us a peek at the upcoming first Micromax Android One smartphone, which will pack a 4.5-inch display, FM Radio, Dual-SIM support and SD card slot.

Google is hoping that Android One initiative will further drive the Android smartphone adoption in the emerging markets like India.