Some of our readers may remember the Android One project, which sought to develop Android-compatible smartphones for under one hundred dollars. Unfortunately, Android One lost traction along the way, but the main goal hasn’t been lost, and all arrows point to an imminent reboot with even more ambitious parameters: $50 smartphones, a price considered ideal for entering the most complex markets.
A Market That Demands Low Cost
We’ve said it before, and this is an excellent moment to repeat it: the mobile market parameters observed in Europe and the United States do not work in the rest of the globe. Users in these regions have adapted without much fuss to the dynamics established by the big companies, but it’s those same giants that hit problem after problem when they want to bring their products to the millions of potential consumers waiting in places like China, India, and all of Latin America. The spell boils down to two words: low cost. Smartphones must reach a floor similar to that of feature phones, without losing too many features or raw performance. After all, the idea is that they use Android as the operating system, which definitely requires Google’s involvement.
Why Android One Struggled
Announced almost a year ago, the Android One project tried to bridge that gap, but its first phase was a complete failure. Distribution problems, lack of cooperation from manufacturers (reduced margins and the obligation to use Android untouched appear as reasons), limitations in each country’s mobile infrastructure, and an initial price completely divorced from reality ($200 or more) left Android One’s vision with a knee on the ground, but according to Rajan Anandan, vice president and managing director of Google for India and Southeast Asia, Android One will get its revenge very soon. Besides working on modifications to its products to reduce data consumption (something Indian users constantly demand), Anandan anticipated that efforts will be increased to bring the price of smartphones “in the coming years” to the level of $50.
The Road to $50
Consumer interest is very high, but at the same time, we must acknowledge that this is a gigantic challenge. As profits shrink, manufacturers’ participation evaporates. Google has no plans to make more smartphones, so finding reliable partners is far from easy. While it’s good to know that Google remains committed to Android One and doesn’t lose sight of the need for affordable devices, the $50 smartphone with Lollipop pre-installed feels very far away.
