Google designed the Android One Platform as a way to provide low-cost Android smartphones to developing markets. The main benefit of using the platform is that users can avoid the usual issues that come with cheap smartphones such as competing services, bloatware, as well as a lack of security and software updates.
A new report issued by The Information has revealed that Google wants to bring the Android One platform to the United States in order to solve those types of issues which are still common for cheap smartphones even in the US as they are not restricted only developing regions.
For its Android One platform, Google has historically partnered with low key manufacturers of smartphones such as QMobile, Micromax, and Cherry. This allowed Google to dictate the specific parts and components that would go into the phone that those companies were making. However, after some time since the program initially launched in India, Google became more flexible and even decided to expand its platform in several parts of Africa, in Portugal and Spain.
Unfortunately, despite the many benefits of the Android One platform for low-end consumers, the program did not the reach the success Google was hoping it would. Nonetheless, it remains an important initiative for the company, one which is keen on expanding even in the US it seems.
Google has an important stake in making sure that as many Android smartphones as possible receive security updates besides other new features on a regular basis. However, the company has yet to put some real effort into the platform, with the launch of the platform in the US might be an indication of this. Therefore, some of the company’s plans for the future of Android could become clearer, especially since the launch of Pixel.
At the moment, Google seems to want to develop their own high-end hardware while still allowing their core services into low-end devices. One thing is clear, Google will not be making the Android One platform devices for the US, but it hasn’t revealed which companies will make them instead. The report reveals that the low-end devices are expected to launch before the middle of 2017.
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