Airtel and Google partner to bring Android Go to low-cost 4G smartphones
ETTelecom|
Feb 27, 2018, 01.24 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Telecom operator Bharti Airtel and Google have partnered for bringing low-cost Android Oreo (Go edition) based smartphones to the Indian market. As part of Airtel’s ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ program, the company will ship entry level 4G smartphones having Android Oreo (Go edition) as standard OS starting March.
Indian handset makers Lava and Micromax will be introducing the first set of 4G smartphones having Android Oreo (Go edition). These smartphones will come pre-loaded with Airtel apps including MyAirtel App, Airtel TV and Wynk Music.
Android Oreo (Go edition) is a configuration of the Android operating system specifically optimized for devices with 1GB of RAM or less. The OS comes with apps which are designed to run faster while using less data.
Airtel said that the devices running Android Oreo (Go edition) will also come with twice as much storage out of the box.
“This partnership is a major milestone for the ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ initiative. Android Go will provide a massive boost to our efforts to bring affordable smartphone options to the market and potentially enable hundreds of millions of feature phone users and unconnected people to get online,” said Vani Venkatesh, Chief Marketing Officer – Bharti Airtel.
“Android’s mission has always been to bring the power of computing to everyone. We’re excited to see Airtel take a leading role in that effort through introducing a range of devices powered by Android Oreo (Go edition),” said Jon Gold, Director of Android Partnerships.
Airtel further said that all smartphones under the program will come with cash back offers and bundled plans that bring down the effective cost of device ownership.
Indian handset makers Lava and Micromax will be introducing the first set of 4G smartphones having Android Oreo (Go edition). These smartphones will come pre-loaded with Airtel apps including MyAirtel App, Airtel TV and Wynk Music.
Android Oreo (Go edition) is a configuration of the Android operating system specifically optimized for devices with 1GB of RAM or less. The OS comes with apps which are designed to run faster while using less data.
Airtel said that the devices running Android Oreo (Go edition) will also come with twice as much storage out of the box.
“This partnership is a major milestone for the ‘Mera Pehla Smartphone’ initiative. Android Go will provide a massive boost to our efforts to bring affordable smartphone options to the market and potentially enable hundreds of millions of feature phone users and unconnected people to get online,” said Vani Venkatesh, Chief Marketing Officer – Bharti Airtel.
“Android’s mission has always been to bring the power of computing to everyone. We’re excited to see Airtel take a leading role in that effort through introducing a range of devices powered by Android Oreo (Go edition),” said Jon Gold, Director of Android Partnerships.
Airtel further said that all smartphones under the program will come with cash back offers and bundled plans that bring down the effective cost of device ownership.
