Google started the Android One program to define guidelines for low-cost smartphones, which were sold in developing countries like India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. The company later expanded the program to Europe, and now it might be looking to launch Android One devices in the United States.
A report from The Information has revealed that Google is allegedly planning to introduce an Android One smartphone in the first half of the year in the US. The company is also said to have briefed manufacturers about various incentives if they agree to stick with Google"s guidelines for low-cost devices.
In the past few months, many low-cost Android smartphones were revealed to be susceptible to snooping by hackers, due to the presence of various types of malware pre-loaded in them. Google taking control of the software could reduce such problems and would certainly help improve the reputation of the Android brand usually tarnished by the fault of the manufacturers.
Google will also be providing feature updates for a period of two years, which can be termed as a luxury, as updates are almost non-existent on entry level devices. In the US, BLU is a popular smartphone manufacturer among those selling unlocked smartphones, but we don"t know whether it will be Google"s launch partner for Android One in the country.
Source: The Information via The Verge