Android One

Android One
Developer Google, various
Type Smartphones
Retail availability September, 2014–present
Operating system Android
Online services Google Play
Website www.android.com/one/

Android One is a standard created by Google for Android systems, mainly targeted at people buying their first smartphone,[1] and customers in the developing world. Android One smartphones run software close to stock Android, without the often extensive vendor-specific modifications that many smartphone vendors apply. Security updates are handled by Google, avoiding problems some earlier phones have had with lacking security updates.[2] Google also makes a reference hardware design available for Android One, meaning that OEMs just have to manufacture the phone.[3] The first set of Android One devices features MediaTek's quad-core MT6582 Mobile System-on-Chip (Mobile SoC).[4]

Android One phones will initially roll out in India, Bangladesh, Nepal,[5] Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries in 2014.[6] The first Android One smartphones were by the Indian brands Micromax, Spice and Karbonn in September 2014, and other manufacturers are going to follow gradually.

Various news articles mention that the Android One standard also dictates minimum hardware requirements,[7][8] but the actual list of minimum requirements doesn't seem to have been made available on the Internet.

History

“ This is one of the biggest launches we've done anywhere, not just India, Phillipines and Indonesia. For us Android One was a journey to try and reach the next 5 billion people. And India accounts for a substantial portion of the share where free border trade with Nepal was also included. It was found that nearly 7 percent of Android Ones produced in India were bought by people from Nepal. Android One was conceived deeply with India in mind. ”

—Sundar Pichai, NDTV Interview, 2014[9]

Android One was launched by Sundar Pichai, senior VP of Google. It has been noted that the initiative was created with Indian market as the basic standard.[9] He was also noted saying that he has been using the device for 'quite some time' as his 'primary' device and it was a 'high-end computing device in every sense of the term'.

“ With Android One we set the bar to be a great software experience and a great device. We really want to bring in a whole new set of people who have never tried a smartphone before. ”

—Sundar Pichai

He also stated that the initial set of devices share common hardware because they are based on the reference platform. An increasing range of devices will be launched in the future as Google expands this programme.[10]

Products

India

India is the first country to release Android One devices. The devices are available in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Micromax Canvas A1

Micromax Canvas A1 is one of the initial Android One phones, which is manufactured by Micromax Mobile with the cooperation of Google. The Micromax Canvas A1 features Android 4.4.4 (kitkat) OS with 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and 4.5 inch capacitive touchscreen. This device has 1 GB RAM, 4 GB internal storage and a Mali-400 GPU.[11]

Karbonn Sparkle V

Karbonn Sparkle V runs on Android 4.4.4 (KitKat) operating system(Upgradeable to 5.1 Lollipop through OTA ) and is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. The dual-SIM smartphone device has 1 GB RAM and 4 GB internal storage. It has Mali 400 GPU graphics. The 4.5-inch display has a resolution of 480×854 pixels. It comes equipped with a 5 MP rear camera and 2 MP front camera. The device has connectivity options as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS and a microUSB port. Its 1700 mAh battery delivers 160 hours of stand by time, and 8 hours of talk time. As part of the Android One initiative, the Karbonn Sparkle V would get automatic OTA updates to the latest version of the Android OS in line with Nexus and Google Play Edition devices.[12]

Spice Dream UNO

The Spice Dream UNO (Mi-498)[13] is powered by a MediaTek SoC with a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and Mali-400 GPU paired with 1 GB of RAM. It is a dual-SIM phone. It has a 4.5-inch screen with FWVGA (480×854 pixels) IPS LCD display. It was released with android version 4.4.4. The new batch comes with Android 5.1 lollipop and the old batch is upgradeable to Android 5.1. It has a 5 MP camera with an LED flash and ability to shoot full HD videos and a 2 MP front camera. It comes with 4 GB of internal storage and the option of adding a microSD card of up to 32 GB capacity. The phone is powered by a 1700 mAh Li-ion battery. Spice claims the battery will offer 10 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby.

Bangladesh

Along with Micromax Canvas A1, Spice Dream uno and Karbon Sparkle V also get local brand Symphony Roar A50.

Symphony Roar A50

It is the Android One device available for Bangladesh. Based on Google's reference design, it has a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution IPS display, MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio and dual SIM support. It runs on Android 4.4.4 (KitKat). The new device does bear some minor improvements over the original three, namely that it has 8GB of storage space instead of 4 and a slightly larger battery at 1,780 mAh instead of 1,700 mAh.[14][15]

Indonesia

Mito Impact

It is the Android One device available for Indonesia. Based on Google's reference design, it has a 4.5-inch, 480x854 resolution IPS display, a MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 1780mAh Battery, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio and dual SIM support. The new device does bear some minor improvements over the original three, namely that it has 8GB of storage space instead of 4. The main attraction of the Mito Impact One is that it is running Android Lollipop out of the box. The expected availability of this device is on 10 February 2015.

Evercoss One X

It is the Android One device available for Indonesia and the price of Rp. 999,000 ($82) (. Based on Google's reference design, it has a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution IPS display, a MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 1700mAh battery, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio and dual SIM support. The new device does bear some minor improvements over the original three, namely that it has 8GB of storage space instead of 4. The main attraction of the Evercoss One X is that it is running Android Lollipop out of the box.

Nexian Journey One

Nexian Journey One is the Android One device available for Indonesia. Based on Google's reference design, it has a 4.5-inch, 854x480 resolution IPS display, a MediaTek MT6582 SoC with 1.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali 400 MP2 GPU, 1GB RAM, 1700 mAh Battery, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio and dual SIM support. The new device does bear some minor improvements over the original three, namely that it has 8GB of storage space instead of 4. The main attraction of the Nexian Journey One is that it is running stock Android Lollipop out of the box. Nexian Journey One was launched on February 4 and claimed to be the first device launched with Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Philippines

Cherry Mobile One

The Cherry Mobile One is the latest addition to the Android One family, made and developed in the Philippines and marketed specifically for the Philippine market. As with most Android One devices, it runs on a MediaTek MT6582 SoC, with a 4.5-inch, 480x854 resolution IPS display, 1GB of RAM, a Mali-400 GPU, 5 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, FM radio and dual SIM support. The new device does bear some minor improvements over the original three, namely that it has 8GB of storage space instead of 4GB. Like the Mito Impact and the MyPhone Uno, the Cherry Mobile One will come with Android Lollipop out of the box.[16][17]

MyPhone Uno

Like the Cherry Mobile One, the MyPhone Uno is made with the Philippine market in mind, and shares similar specifications. The Uno, however, only comes with 4GB of internal storage, but will also receive regular software updates.[16][17] The MyPhone Uno shares the same design as the Micromax Canvas A1.

References

  1. ↑ "What led to Google Android One launch?". StockNewsDesk. September 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ Google reveals the first ultra-cheap Android One smartphones
  3. ↑ With Android One, Google puts itself firmly back in the OS' driving seat
  4. ↑ MediaTek Teams With Google on Android One™ to Create Affordable Smartphones for Emerging Markets
  5. ↑ Google officially launches Android One Smartphones in Nepal
  6. ↑ Android One: Google's push to rule the smartphone world
  7. ↑ Android One launches in India: Why Google’s latest project is a big deal
  8. ↑ Google Gives Out Low-Cost Android One
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/news/googles-sundar-pichai-on-android-one-in-an-exclusive-chat-with-ndtvs-vikram-chandra-592062
  10. ↑ "NDTV Gadgets". Android One Was Conceived With India in Mind, Says Google's Sundar Pichai. NDTV Correspondent. 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2014-12-15.
  11. ↑ http://www.micromaxinfo.com/canvasa1/specification.html?sarVal=1
  12. ↑ "Karbonn Sparkle V Android One review: The affordable Nexus". TechOne3. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  13. ↑ http://www.technotification.com/2014/09/spice-android-one-dream-uno-officially-announced-priced-at-rs-6299-at-flipkart-com.html
  14. ↑ http://symphony-mobile.com/product-details.php?id=136
  15. ↑ http://www.banglalink.com.bd/en/services/devices/3g-devices/banglalink-symphony-bring-androidone/
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Montenegro, Bea (17 February 2015). "Google's Android One debuts in PHL, priced below P5k". GMA News Online (GMA Network). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Feist, Johnathan (17 February 2015). "Google is launching Android One devices in the Philippines next". Android Authority. Retrieved 17 February 2015.

External links