According to a report from The Information, Google will be launching its Android One program into the United States over the coming months.
Android One is a program for low-cost smartphones powered by Google's Android operating system, and the first Android One device for the United States is expected to arrive before the middle of 2017.
What Is The Android One Program?
The Android One program was originally created to bring low-cost smartphones to developing markets without the usual characteristics found in low-cost Android devices, including bloatware, competing services, and the lack of security and software updates.
Rolled out in 2014, the Android One program looked to equip 5 billion more people with powerful but affordable smartphones. The program first launched in India, and then expanded to other countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh the following year.
Smartphones under the Android One program have usually been produced by companies that are not popular in the United States. Google also had a direct influence in choosing the components that will be used for Android One smartphone, but it became more flexible as the program further expanded into Africa, Portugal, and Spain.
Android One Smartphone For The United States
The Information reported that the first smartphone under the Android One program that will be launched in the United States will be supported by an advertising campaign funded by Google.
Like other Android One smartphones, timely software and security updates are guaranteed for the upcoming device for two years from the date of sale, which is something that is not often seen in Android devices unlike those released by rival Apple.
The manufacturer of the device has not yet been revealed, though LG has been noted as a possible partner. Sources have also claimed that the price range of the Android One smartphone will be between $200 and $300.
Why Launching Android One In The United States Makes Sense
All manufacturers launching Android One devices will receive funding for promoting the smartphones, as long as they comply with the requirements of the program of being able to release software and security updates on time to keep the smartphones updated.
As such, expanding the Android One program into the United States will help in addressing the well-known fragmentation problem of Android smartphones.
Owners of iOS devices receive software and security updates as soon as Apple rolls them out, which is not the case for owners of Android smartphones. Users sometimes have to wait for several months before an Android update released by Google arrives on their device, as carriers and smartphone manufacturers are the ones determining which Android devices receive updates and when they are pushed through.
In addition, there is already an established market for unlocked smartphones in the United States within the $200 to $300 price range. As such, there is a likely possibility for successful launches of Android One devices with price tags that fall within this range.
The success of the Android One program in the United States, if it will really be expanded into the country, remains to be seen, but if the report is true, it shows that Google is now looking to ensure a more consistent Android experience in the low-end to mid-range section of the smartphone market.
