When Google announced its Android One program last year, it sounded great, with plans to offer low-cost smartphones that run stock Android and get speedy OS updates. However, it sounds like the program isn’t taking off quite as well as Google would’ve liked. That doesn’t mean that Google is going to give up on Android One, though.
Speaking to Economic Times, Ceasar Sengupta explained that when Android One launched, the devices weren’t available in all channels. Sengupta, who is Google’s VP of Product Management, says that Google is working to make sure that Android One devices are easy to buy and that it’s also collaborating with them to get updates out. It’s currently working with OEMs to push Android 5.1.1 out to all Android One users.
Sengupta went on to say that it remains “pretty committed” to the Android One program. Google is thinking about offering specific phones in specific markets and working with OEMs large and small to bring Android One to additional markets.
Android One is a noble effort. Low-cost Android phones are popular in many international markets, but sometimes those devices have lower-end specs or software that gets few or no updates, both of which can lead to poor experiences for the users. Android One is designed to solve this problem, and the devices that’ve been released under the program so far seem impressive, which makes it disappointing to hear that Android One hasn’t exactly taken off so far. Here’s to hoping that Google’s efforts to expand availability help Android One to actually gain traction.