It is said that Google would like to roll out the first device that is based on its new requirements in the months ahead, working alongside Lava global of India.
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But now, a new report from the Wall Street Journal claims Google will be relaunching Android One with the same budget-friendly price tag, but with more relaxed hardware requirements.
Earlier this year in India, for example, only a small percentage of low-priced handsets bought by consumers were Android One phones. This could get more OEMs onto the Android One bandwagon. Despite running Android, however, Micromax’s products are not in the Android One Program. “Indian phone manufacturers weren’t happy with Google’s strict Android One hardware requirements, which put too much burden on them while restricting their ability to compete with other companies”, points out Slashgear. This was likely caused by the limitations that manufacturers had to follow in order to release an Android One smartphone in the country.
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Google’s new Android One approach allows for partners to choose from a greater variety of suppliers and components. This would give manufacturers more options when it comes to the features and pricing of their phones, letting device makers buy parts from their own preferred vendors that may be cheaper than the ones that Google previously required. The idea was that Google would do this so that manufacturers didn’t have to, saving them the effort of having to design and source parts for a phone. For instance, there are reportedly at least 5 difference cameras from which manufacturers can now choose. Price and specifics are now unknown.
