Google is reportedly partnering with Reliance Jio, to make an affordable 4G smartphone. The Hindu, reports that the device which is likely to be launched at the end of the year, will be exclusive to Jio's network.
(Android One)
This Google branded Jio phone, is probably to ensure that both parties benefit from it. That is, Google will gain more isers with its branding, while Jio will improve its apps, music and movie services.
This sounds very similar to Android One, Google's affordable smartphone platform, for which it partnered with Micromax, Karbonn and Spice. The devices which were priced at ₹6,500 enjoyed security and OS updates directly from Google, just like Nexus phones. Even though Google had designed the phone, the three OEMs manufactured the actual products which all looked to identical. This led to confusion among users, and the heavy competition from Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi, Huawei's Honor, etc, which offered better hardware at similar prices, led to the eventual death of Android One.
Hopefully Google and Reliance Jio will make it better this time. While we don't have any idea about the actual specifications of the device in quetion, we sincerely hope that it will be well specced, at least to cater to the mid range segment, in a competitive manner.Google could even use this as an opportunity to tap in to a budget friendly market, something which its premium devices, the Pixel and the Pixel XL cannot achieve in India.
Thanks Avinash for the tip.
via: The Hindu