Google plans to introduce to US its low-cost phones aimed at emerging markets
Internet giant hopes to reduce the number of its customers moving to rival iPhone by offering the latest tech and regular updates for its phones
Google wants to import one of its own creations into its home market.
Importantly, The Information reports that those phones will come with a guarantee from Google to be updated with the latest Android updates and security fixes for two years from the sale date. Better yet, they will cost between US$200 and US$300, with the first Android One phone arriving in the US as soon as this summer.
Apple has always made a point of making sure that as many older iPhones and iPads as possible come along for the ride with each new update to the iOS operating system.
Meanwhile, Android users are often left waiting months or years for updates, if they come at all, with the carriers usually left to decide which phones get which updates, when.
Google has already moved to tackle this problem at the high end of the market, with its Pixel phones — packed with the very latest Google tech, and with the promise that the search giant itself will push out software updates. It’s a small part of the larger battle to reduce fragmentation, and helps boost Android’s market perception.
Now it sounds like Google is partnering with unnamed manufacturers via Android One to start to capture the middle of the market, with a similar promise to keep its users up-to-date.
According to the report, Google will keep Android manufacturers on board by promising to help fund their phones’ marketing, so long as they comply with the plan.
Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
