Android One to Kill Galaxy Note 4/iPhone 6 as it Becomes Available to Five Billion People
Google specializes in offering affordable but premium technology to billions of people. Now the company wants to translate its search engine success to its smartphone initiative aiming to offer Android One to as many as five billion people.
Larry Page and Sergey started an Information Revolution that was compared to the way Thomas Edison inspired the Industrial Revolution. This time, Google wants to revolutionize smartphone access and competition. The Android One initiative wants to bring in premium handsets to more than five billion people who still do not have access to such technology.
According to the official blog of Google: "If we look at how people are getting online and accessing information today, increasingly it's through a smartphone."
"While 1.75 billion people around the world already have a smartphone, the vast majority of the world's population-over five billion more-do not."
Google wants to offer more than just usual voice calls. They aim to offer more multimedia choices to enhance interaction among users. As the company puts it: "That means most people are only able to make simple voice calls, rather than connect with family through a live video chat, use mapping apps to find the closest hospital, or simply search the web. We want to bring these experiences to more people."
However, analysts argue that technology alone does not guarantee success. Google must be able to make the right business decisions. In fact, the company may now be facing hurdles as new reports suggest that Android One devices appear pricey to draw over a billion Indian internet users. India remains one of the fastest growing smartphone markets. Google started its Android One initiative in the country with $105 smartphones. Experts argue the $100-mark remain expensive if the company wants to snag as many users.
According to Tech Republic, Deloitte Haskins & Sells partnet at advisory, Hermant Joshi, shares: "Phone manufacturers have to figure out more affordable handsets, and operators have to make voice and data services cheaper. That could set off a second round of cell phone explosion in India." Indian cities with heavy mobile users allow as much as 138% market penetration. However, in rurual India can only allow 43% because of poor quality of life. Google has to find a way to reconcile these concerns if it wants to capture the rest of the world.
Apple remains true to its high end target market selling as many as 10 million iPhone 6 units during the first weekend of sale. Google plans to reveal another set of Android One phones this December.