Android One is a Google project that specifies a set of particular requirements in terms of hardware and software. In order to get official status from Google, device makers are required to adhere to these guidelines.
In an interview for the Financial Times, Rajan Anandan, Google's managing director for India and Southeast Asia, declared that the company is still committed to the initiative. However, according to reports, Google Android One initiative has seemingly struggled since its launch last year. According to Mr Anandan, Google's much-hyped mobile standard Android One had "not delivered to expectations". He explained that one reason for this is the fact that the Indian market experienced supply chain issues leading to shortages of the phones. Most of the smartphones present on the Indian market are imported from China.
Android One is part of Google's strategy to replicate its dominance in traditional desktop search. For reaching this aim, Google helps building new businesses linked to its Android mobile operating system. The American company is focused in particular on hundreds of millions of first-time smartphone users in Indian and other emerging markets across the globe.
The main intention of Google is to cut the costs and time necessary for building low-cost smartphones. The Android One guidelines are open to all device makers who express their intention to participate, with the condition to adhere to its requirements.
At launch, the original price tag suggested by Google for Android One was $100. However, now Google wants to lower the price further at around $30-$50 (Rs2,000-Rs3,000), according to Mr. Anandan. Google intends to use part of the reboot as an investment program to offer content curated specifically for the Indian market, in order to bring smaller businesses online.
The American corporation is also working on developing specific products better suited to the Indian mobile and internet infrastructure, characterized by slow connections. Offline versions of Google Maps and Tube are already available for Indian customers.
