Google to tie up with Micromax, Karbonn and Spice to launch smartphones under $100 (Rs 6,000)

Google, the internet giant has decided to partner with Indian handset-makers Spice, Micromax and Karbonn to launch $100 (Rs.6,000) Smartphones. Some of these Smartphones are expected to be launched in early September.

This news was announced in Google’s annual developer conference on Wednesday by the company’s senior vice-president Sundar Pichai. If experts are to be believed, this move by Google will shoot up the Indian brands popularity and credibility all over the world. It will also increase the already stiff competition in the entry-level Smartphone market of the country.

This initiative by Google has been named the Android One initiative. Under this initiative, the Indian handset-makers will be provided with hardware reference models so as to create high quality Smartphones that too at low cost.

According to Sundar, the Smartphones will be first unveiled in India and then launched globally. These phones can be expected to run a standardized version of Android which will permit faster updates.

Pichai while showcasing a 4.5 inch Micromax device with dual SIM slots, FM radio and expandable memory also added that Google is also currently working with Indian carriers so as to make these Smartphone users available with affordable data packs.

The first batch of these Smartphones can be expected to hit the Indian markets in somewhere around early September. In all possibility, these phones can be co-branded as the tech giant may not want to venture into the hardware business again after no additional follow ups on Nexus and selling off Motorola.

These Smartphones will take the low end phone market competition, where Samsung and Nokia are already functioning to an all new level.

Whatever may be the case, the customers are expected to gain considerably from the tech giants this move. The customers are expected to get more value and the overall experience is set to become better and faster as with the standard Google platform, the updates will be quicker.

Google’s this initiative has not come as a surprise, as everyone wants to reap in the fruits of the booming Indian Smartphone market. According to the data made available by IDC, the Smartphone market in India tripled itself in the first quarter of this year with 17.59 million devices being shipped compared to 6.4 million during the same time interval last year.

Top Image - [Flickr]

Google to tie up with Micromax, Karbonn and Spice to launch smartphones under $100 (Rs 6,000)

Google, the internet giant has decided to partner with Indian handset-makers Spice, Micromax and Karbonn to launch $100 (Rs.6,000) Smartphones. Some of these Smartphones are expected to be launched in early September.

This news was announced in Google’s annual developer conference on Wednesday by the company’s senior vice-president Sundar Pichai. If experts are to be believed, this move by Google will shoot up the Indian brands popularity and credibility all over the world. It will also increase the already stiff competition in the entry-level Smartphone market of the country.

This initiative by Google has been named the Android One initiative. Under this initiative, the Indian handset-makers will be provided with hardware reference models so as to create high quality Smartphones that too at low cost.

According to Sundar, the Smartphones will be first unveiled in India and then launched globally. These phones can be expected to run a standardized version of Android which will permit faster updates.

Pichai while showcasing a 4.5 inch Micromax device with dual SIM slots, FM radio and expandable memory also added that Google is also currently working with Indian carriers so as to make these Smartphone users available with affordable data packs.

The first batch of these Smartphones can be expected to hit the Indian markets in somewhere around early September. In all possibility, these phones can be co-branded as the tech giant may not want to venture into the hardware business again after no additional follow ups on Nexus and selling off Motorola.

These Smartphones will take the low end phone market competition, where Samsung and Nokia are already functioning to an all new level.

Whatever may be the case, the customers are expected to gain considerably from the tech giants this move. The customers are expected to get more value and the overall experience is set to become better and faster as with the standard Google platform, the updates will be quicker.

Google’s this initiative has not come as a surprise, as everyone wants to reap in the fruits of the booming Indian Smartphone market. According to the data made available by IDC, the Smartphone market in India tripled itself in the first quarter of this year with 17.59 million devices being shipped compared to 6.4 million during the same time interval last year.

Top Image - [Flickr]

Mozilla to launch $25 phone in India in partnership with Intex & Spice

Mozilla is all prepared to launch the first Firefox OS devices in India in next few months. For this venture, it has partnered with Indian handset brands Spice and Intex.

The specifications of these Smartphones haven’t reveled by the companies yet but according to the reference design, they might have a 3.5 HVGA touch screen display, integrated Wi-Fi, camera, FM along with a Spreadtrum SC6821 processor.

Mozilla earlier this year introduced its new range of Firefox OS devices at the MWC 2014. It also announced a $25 reference design powered by a Spreadtrum processor.

The Smartphones will start from $25 (Rs. 1,500 approximately). According to Gong Li, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Mozilla, with a price tag of $25, there will be no price gap left between a feature phone and smart phone. With this low price range, Mozilla will aim to motivate the people in making the switch from feature to Smartphones.

Low-cost Smartphones have become a hit in emerging markets like India. Though the Firefox handsets might not be able to fight with its Windows, iOS and Android counterparts but it surely will be able to grab the eyeballs of first time Smartphones buyers with its attractive low price range.

According to Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Business Head, Mobile, Intex technologies (India) Ltd, Intex’s association with Mozilla will enable them to develop unparalleled smart devices on the Firefox OS latest platform. This will further give them an edge in upgrading feature phone users to Smartphones while at the same time making it affordable for the mass market. This association will make their devices much more than just a way to use the Web. It will take the engagement further and develop the Web as a mobile platform. Intex’s Firefox OS-powered Cloud FX Smartphones will be available in the Indian market by early August.

On the other hand, Dilip Modi, Co-founder and CEO of Spice states that they are pleased to be associated with Firefox OS devices as they have always been technology innovators in the Indian telecom industry. According to him, this association is symbolic of their commitment in providing first-hand technological innovations experience to their customers. Spice has announced that its Mozilla Firefox OS devices will be available in the Indian market by July 2014 and it would come with a dual SIM support.

 

Mozilla to launch $25 phone in India in partnership with Intex & Spice

Mozilla is all prepared to launch the first Firefox OS devices in India in next few months. For this venture, it has partnered with Indian handset brands Spice and Intex.

The specifications of these Smartphones haven’t reveled by the companies yet but according to the reference design, they might have a 3.5 HVGA touch screen display, integrated Wi-Fi, camera, FM along with a Spreadtrum SC6821 processor.

Mozilla earlier this year introduced its new range of Firefox OS devices at the MWC 2014. It also announced a $25 reference design powered by a Spreadtrum processor.

The Smartphones will start from $25 (Rs. 1,500 approximately). According to Gong Li, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Mozilla, with a price tag of $25, there will be no price gap left between a feature phone and smart phone. With this low price range, Mozilla will aim to motivate the people in making the switch from feature to Smartphones.

Low-cost Smartphones have become a hit in emerging markets like India. Though the Firefox handsets might not be able to fight with its Windows, iOS and Android counterparts but it surely will be able to grab the eyeballs of first time Smartphones buyers with its attractive low price range.

According to Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Business Head, Mobile, Intex technologies (India) Ltd, Intex’s association with Mozilla will enable them to develop unparalleled smart devices on the Firefox OS latest platform. This will further give them an edge in upgrading feature phone users to Smartphones while at the same time making it affordable for the mass market. This association will make their devices much more than just a way to use the Web. It will take the engagement further and develop the Web as a mobile platform. Intex’s Firefox OS-powered Cloud FX Smartphones will be available in the Indian market by early August.

On the other hand, Dilip Modi, Co-founder and CEO of Spice states that they are pleased to be associated with Firefox OS devices as they have always been technology innovators in the Indian telecom industry. According to him, this association is symbolic of their commitment in providing first-hand technological innovations experience to their customers. Spice has announced that its Mozilla Firefox OS devices will be available in the Indian market by July 2014 and it would come with a dual SIM support.