Google launched the Android One project last year, hoping to provide low-cost Android smartphones to the market. However, the venture did not take off that easily, with reports saying that aside from Google not working closely enough with handset manufacturers, the response itself bordered on lukewarm to cold reception since Google also has not provided timely updates to the original line of Android One phones. In addition, the smartphone market also opened to better-featured, same price-ranged smartphones from other manufacturers.
Seemingly learning from its previous mistakes, Google is again rebooting its Android One project, and will be concentrating first in India. Aside from maintaining low-cost Android Ones, the company is reported to also be focusing on releasing high-quality Android phones for as low as $50 in the next few weeks.
Business observer site Financial Times reported that according to Rajan Anandan, Google's managing director in India and Southeast Asia, the company is still deeply committed to making the venture work. Focusing in India, a market where the Android One is struggling to stay afloat since its introduction in September last year, Google is making plans to revitalize the market.
Aside from introducing high-grade yet affordable Android smartphones, Google is also planning to provide tailor-made products appropriate to the Indian market, such as providing offline versions of various popular apps. The company also plans to introduce online services that are already adjusted to the country's slow Internet connections.
Anandan said that starting with much-improved Android One smartphones, Google has long-term plans for the Indian market.
"Strategically it [India] is very, very important," he said. "Don't get me wrong, the revenue is interesting but we're here really because 10 years from now a billion Indians will be online and when we have a billion Indians online we think that's going to make a huge difference to the global internet economy."
