Google aims to launch a $50 Android smartphone

New Delhi: Aiming to further penetrate in key emerging markets, Google is mulling over revamping its Android One initiative that seeks to rev up demand for low-priced smartphones.

According to a Financial Times report, the company is going to unveil a new plan for Android One in the next few weeks. Though there are a few details available as yet, the report quotes Rajan Anandan, Google's managing director in Southeast Asia, as saying, that the company is aiming to hit the "sweet spot" of $50 smartphones.

Google has, however, reached out to IBNLive clarifying that "the Financial Times had misquoted Ranjan", and FT has subsequently updated Ranjan's quote as saying, “Google is looking to launch a $50 phone in the next few years.”

If the report is to be believed, Google is also creating new apps and services specifically for the Indian market. This hints at the company's efforts to make its products even more friendly in areas with low-bandwidth Internet access.

After launching a couple of Android One smartphones last year with Spice, Karbonn, and Micromax, the company recently launched a new Android One phone in association with Lava. Priced at Rs 11,349, the Android One-based Lava Pixel V1 didn't seem to be in line with the original idea of the Android One initiative that attempts to get a firm hold on the low-cost segment of the smartphone market.

With Android One, Google aims to improve the quality of hardware and software by giving handset makers a frame of reference.

Currently, many affordable smartphones in India already offer customised versions of the Android operating system. In case of Android One, the eventual software upgrades on the Android One phones would come directly from Google.

This would give Google better control of the operating system and ensure users get a consistent service.

India is an attractive market for companies that make low-cost smartphones because more people are now able to afford a smartphone, often for the first time.

For Google, a strong uptake of Android One smartphones should increase access to the Internet and Google's suite of products.

Google had announced the launch of the Android One project in June last year.