14 DAY TRIAL // Google launched the Android One initiative as a way to better penetrate emerging markets where smartphone adoption is still pretty low.
The handsets launched under this banner offer pretty basic specs, but on the positive side of things they come with a near-stock Android experience. And back when it launched the first Android One smartphones in India, Google said these devices would be among the first to receive important software updates.
Something that didn't turn out exactly as planned. On the other hand, Android 5.1 got its confirmation after it was spotted on the Google Android One official page in Indonesia, and we assume the handset ships out with the OS in the country.
But despite the search giant’s attempts, customers and retailers alike don’t seem very taken with Android One products. A possible reason why this is happening is because Google is very picky regarding the third-party partners it choose to carry its products.
In India for example, Android One handsets can be acquired through Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal only.
Google continues to believe Android One has a future
Well, even if the initial feedback to Android One hasn't been the one Google hoped for, the company continues to have faith in its line of budget products for developing markets.
With this in mind, Google has rolled out two new Lollipop-based Android One smartphones in Philippines. They are called the Cherry One and MyPhone Uno and there’s a little mystery related to them.
As for the spec department, the two models arrive with a 4.5-inch LCD with 854 x 480 pixel resolution and a quad-core MediaTek MT6582 SoC fitted with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage (8GB on the Cherry model)
Google is also offering a 5MP/2MP camera combo, dual SIM functionality, 3G, microSD card and a 1,700 mAh battery.
As you can see, Google doesn't seem to be deflated by Android One’s current lack of success and continuing to push the handsets throughout Asia.
And who knows, at some point Google might get some real backing up from key players in the Asian market. A few months ago, Xiaomi said it might be considering launching an Android One smartphone too, although we’re yet to figure out how such a plan might go through.
Update: Earlier this month Android 5.1 got spotted running on a few Android handsets in Indonesia and now it turns out these two new models run the on the same OS.
