Google announces Android One initiative, to launch low cost smartphones

BANGALORE, INDIA: As part of Android One initiative Google announced it is working on a low-cost smartphone aimed at emerging markets. The device will be launched in India first.

Google senior vice president Sundar Pichai said at the start of the technology giant's annual developers conference that the Android-powered handset will be built with a basic set of features including FM radio, have a screen slightly smaller than five inches and be priced at less than USD 100.

"We are going to be launching it around the world, but will launch in India first in the fall of this year," Pichai said.

He added that Google was working with carriers in India to provide affordable telecom service packages to go with the smartphones.

The Android One initiative sets out to work with smartphone makers and others in the "ecosystem" to pool resources and standardize hardware platforms to provide ‘turnkey solutions' for making handsets, according to Pichai.