First revealed in June during Google’s annual I/O developer conference, Android One phones run a stock version of Android, and are designed for emerging markets. Google stays in control of the update process, ensuring the devices are kept up-to-date in the future, and each phone comes loaded with local language support. Google and local smartphone manufacturers launched the first devices under the Android One program in India during September 2014.

Android One now in four additional countries

At the end of 2014, Google announced Android One phones were about to launch in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In February 2015, it added Indonesia to the list, and also confirmed the launch of another three Android One smartphones.

The three new phones are the Evercoss One X, the Mito Impact, and the Nexian Journey. They join the Symphony Roar A50, which is exclusive to Bangladesh, and was unveiled at the end of last year.

It’s no surprise to find that all the new Android One phones share the same specification sheet. This means buyers will get a 4.5-inch, 854 x 480 pixel touchscreens, a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front camera, and 8GB of internal storage space.

Android 5.1 onboard, before everyone else

Reports of buyers grabbing an Android One device with Android 5.1 installed are gathering, making these devices the first to get the latest version of Google’s mobile OS. According to AndroidPit, version 5.1 contains a variety of bug fixes and performance improvements, plus several alterations to the Material Design look introduced with Android Lollipop. Anyone hoping for new features will be disappointed though, as none seem to be present.

Android One in India

The first three Android One phones were produced by Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice, three popular brands in India. All three phones share almost identical spec sheets, based on requirements laid out by Google, and differ mainly by design. The phones are sold through specific online retailers in India, with each manufacturer signing exclusive deals. Networks haven’t been left out either, and will offer airtime packages designed for Android One phones.

Micromax’s Canvas A1 was shown during Google I/O, and is sold through Snapdeal, Karbonn’s Sparkle V through Amazon India, and buyers wanting the Spice Dream Uno smartphone need to visit the Flipkart online store. The phones started to trickle through to high street retailers at the end of October.

All three Android One phones have 4.5-inch touchscreens with a 854 x 480 pixel resolution, and a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6582 processor with 1GB of RAM inside. There’s dual-SIM support, a MicroSD card slot to boost the 4GB of internal memory, a 1700mAh battery, plus 3G connectivity. The rear camera has 5 megapixels and an LED flash, plus it’ll record 1080p video, while the front camera has 2 megapixels.

Android 4.4.4 was the standard operating system at launch, but devices have since been updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Hindi language support is built-in, which is an important feature for smartphones launched in India, where Hindi is the first language for 40-percent of the population. The price is also important, and all three Android One devices cost around $105.

Android One in the future

This is only the beginning for Android One. A wide variety of hardware partners have signed on, and Google plans to continue expanding the program internationally. According to Sundar Pichai, Google’s head of Android, nine new device manufacturers have signed up to produce an Android One phone – these are Asus, Alcatel, Acer, HTC, Lenovo, Panasonic, Intex, Lava, and Xolo – and Qualcomm’s onboard to supply processors too.

Author: Andy Boxall

Source: DigitalTrends