Google for India LIVE: Reliance JioPhone first feature phone to support Google Assistant

Google for India in 2015 was hosted by Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Google is hosting its ‘Google for India’ event in New Delhi today. The search giant has already sent out invites for the event, which starts at 10:15 AM. “Join global product and business leaders from Google as they share insights into our commitment to India’s next billion users and our role as a growth engine for the country,” the invite reads.

Caesar Sengupta who is the Vice President of Product Management at Google along with Martha Welsh, director of Google Maps, and more speakers will be present at the event.

Google for India, an annual affair, is being held for the third time in a row. Google for India in 2015 was hosted by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who announced free Wi-Fi at 100 railway stations, faster search in order to improve Internet access in India, Tap to Translate, YouTube pause to buffer, and more.

1:25 PM: A new two-wheeler mode of Google Maps is being rolled out for India, Director of Google Maps, Martha Welsh, announces. India is the first country to receive this feature.

1:11 PM: Reliance JioPhone is the first feature phone to offer Google Assistant support, says the US software giant.

1:09 PM: The tech giant announces that Google Assistant will feature on Reliance JioPhone, says Gummi Hafsteinsson, Product Management Director, Google Assistant.

12:58 PM: Google Go will be the default search app for Android Oreo (Go Edition), says the company’s Shashidhar Thakur, VP of Engineering.

12:55 PM: Google also announces a search app specifically designed for low-budget phones. It is called Google Go.

12:40 PM: Explaining Android Oreo (Go Edition), Google says it will optimise budget smartphones,  and reduce lags across apps.

12:31 PM: Google makes the Go Edition of Android Oreo available in India, with which it aims to target entry-level smartphones.

12:27 PM: Google’s Tez app will now payments to merchants as well.

12:21 PM: According to Google, the Tez app has 12 million users, and has seen 140 million transactions.

12:15 PM: Google says in its strategy to build products for the future, India is key.

12:11 PM: Internet Saathi is a Google India initiative, aimed at empowering women.

12:06 PM: Google says it is expanding its Internet Saathi programme in India.

12:00 PM: India downloads 1 billion apps from the Google Play store each month.

11:57 AM: 28 per cent of all search queries in India are done by voice

11:56 AM: 106 million Indians consume news online, says Anadan

11:56 AM: Rajan Anadan , VP South East Asia & India for Google, takes the stage.