After announcing it first back at I/O 2014, Google today
finally launched the first Android One devices in India.
The first three phones to be launched are the Karbon
Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1, and Spice Dream UNO.
The Dream UNO is the cheapest at INR6,299 ($103), while
the Sparkle V costs INR6,399 ($105) and the Canvas A1
costs INR6,499 ($106).
All three phones are being sold exclusively through three
different online stores. The Karbonn Sparkle V will be sold
on Snapdeal, the Micromax Canvas V1 through Amazon,
and the Spice Dream UNO through Flipkart.
In terms of specifications, all three phones are based on
Google's reference design, and as such are pretty much
identical. All three have a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution
IPS display, MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3GHz quad-core
Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 4GB
storage space with microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear
camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio, dual SIM
support, and replaceable 1,700mAh battery. The only
differences will be in the design and minor software
enhancements.
The best thing about these phones is that they all run
stock version of Android, 4.4.4 KitKat in this case. The
phones will get OS updates directly from Google for two
years since launch. These phones will also be first in line
with the Nexus devices to get Android L, or any future
release.
Google also has done partnership with Airtel, India's
biggest mobile carrier. Users on Airtel will be able to
download Android updates for free (that is, without being
charged for data downloads) for the first six months.
Airtel users will also be able to download up to 200MB
worth of apps from the Google Play Store every month,
which won't be counted towards their mobile data.
Another interesting feature is that Android One users will
be able to download and watch YouTube videos offline,
something not yet available on any Android device. They
will also get one year free subscription to content on
Google Play Newsstand. Apart from this, the individual
online stores selling these phones also have additional
offers available, including financing options, discounts on
accessories, and free memory card.
India is just the first country to receive Android One.
Google will be bringing Android One devices to other
countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines and South
Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) by the
end of the year, with more countries to follow in 2015.
There will also be other Androd OEMs, who will be joining
Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice later. These include Acer,
Alcatel Onetouch, ASUS, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo,
Panasonic, Xolo, and Qualcomm.
Android One is a great initiative by Google to bring
smartphones to the masses. But with devices like Xiamomi
Redmi 1s and Moto E (which are similarly priced and
offer better specs) already on the market, not to
mention the lack of availability of these phones outside
the aforementioned online retailers, we would have to
wait and see how successful it is
finally launched the first Android One devices in India.
The first three phones to be launched are the Karbon
Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1, and Spice Dream UNO.
The Dream UNO is the cheapest at INR6,299 ($103), while
the Sparkle V costs INR6,399 ($105) and the Canvas A1
costs INR6,499 ($106).
All three phones are being sold exclusively through three
different online stores. The Karbonn Sparkle V will be sold
on Snapdeal, the Micromax Canvas V1 through Amazon,
and the Spice Dream UNO through Flipkart.
In terms of specifications, all three phones are based on
Google's reference design, and as such are pretty much
identical. All three have a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution
IPS display, MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3GHz quad-core
Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 4GB
storage space with microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear
camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio, dual SIM
support, and replaceable 1,700mAh battery. The only
differences will be in the design and minor software
enhancements.
The best thing about these phones is that they all run
stock version of Android, 4.4.4 KitKat in this case. The
phones will get OS updates directly from Google for two
years since launch. These phones will also be first in line
with the Nexus devices to get Android L, or any future
release.
Google also has done partnership with Airtel, India's
biggest mobile carrier. Users on Airtel will be able to
download Android updates for free (that is, without being
charged for data downloads) for the first six months.
Airtel users will also be able to download up to 200MB
worth of apps from the Google Play Store every month,
which won't be counted towards their mobile data.
Another interesting feature is that Android One users will
be able to download and watch YouTube videos offline,
something not yet available on any Android device. They
will also get one year free subscription to content on
Google Play Newsstand. Apart from this, the individual
online stores selling these phones also have additional
offers available, including financing options, discounts on
accessories, and free memory card.
India is just the first country to receive Android One.
Google will be bringing Android One devices to other
countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines and South
Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) by the
end of the year, with more countries to follow in 2015.
There will also be other Androd OEMs, who will be joining
Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice later. These include Acer,
Alcatel Onetouch, ASUS, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo,
Panasonic, Xolo, and Qualcomm.
Android One is a great initiative by Google to bring
smartphones to the masses. But with devices like Xiamomi
Redmi 1s and Moto E (which are similarly priced and
offer better specs) already on the market, not to
mention the lack of availability of these phones outside
the aforementioned online retailers, we would have to
wait and see how successful it is
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