14 DAY TRIAL // The Indian market doesn't lack Android One smartphones, but Google plans to launch another one in the next couple of months.
According to a new report coming from WSJ, Google has teamed up with Lava International, a native OEM on the Indian market, for the release of a budget-friendly Android One smartphone.
The move might not have been unusual at all since multiple Indian OEMs have already launched Android One smartphones in the country, but they haven't been as popular as the handset makers initially hoped.
However, sources familiar with Google's plans to make some changes to the Android One program by giving handsets makers more freedom on what software and hardware to put inside their devices.
Cheaper and better?
In addition, Indian OEMs that decide to continue to launch Android One smartphones in the future will also be allowed to determine how much their devices will cost.
Part of the reason why Android One program was a big flop in India was the fact that the smartphones were mostly available for purchase online.
Also, the devices were not that appealing hardware- and price-wise, which is why they couldn't compete with other smartphones in the same price range.
The new initiative by Google and Lava International plans to remove these downsides completely by letting OEMs decide how to price their phones and what components and apps to put on them.
Obviously, there will be some limits that OEMs will be allowed to go to, but we doubt Google will make too many compromises when it comes to software.
Unfortunately, there are no details about the specs of the new Android One smartphone coming from Lava International, but we suspect more info will be available in the next couple of weeks.
In the same piece of news, it's worth mentioning that Lava is not the only company that's part of the Android One program in India. Karbonn, Spice Mobile, and Micromax launched their Android One phones last year as well.