Google reveals the first Android One budget smartphones

Google today introduced the first smartphones part of its Android One program, an initiative designed to help bring affordable, high quality handsets to developing countries. Android One handsets are built to retail for around USD$100.

Google today introduced the first smartphones part of its Android One program, an initiative designed to help bring affordable, high quality handsets to developing countries. Android One handsets are built to retail for around USD$100.

The first three Android One handsets are built by manufactures Micromax, Spice and Karbonn. All three share the same internals: a 4.5-inch screen, a 1.3Ghz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5 megapixel camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera and 4GB of expandable storage. In addition, all three phones are dual SIM.

All Android One devices will run an unmodified Android 4.4, and will received updates as soon as a new version is released. As with the Nexus program, Google will be responsible for distributing these updates. Indian customers on Airtel will be able to download software updates unmetered for the first six months.

In addition, these phones will feature a special version of YouTube that allows users to download videos and rewatch them without additional data usage, and more local publications in Google Play Newsstand.

HTC, Asus, Acer and Panasonic and Lenovo will also be building Android One smartphones, according to Google.

It is unlikely that that Android One devices will make an appearance in western markets such as Australia.

Source: Google, Android One