Android One program expands outside Asian market as it hits second generation

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General Mobile Turkey Android One Hero smartphone 1 - Techweez

Google unveiled the Android One program back at I/O 14 with the aim of getting subsidized hardware into the hands of millions in emerging markets around the world while still ensuring they don’t miss out on crucial updates it provides to the software i.e. Android. That program has so far rolled out in few countries with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Phillipines being the first. Google is expanding the reach of the program to include the first country outside Asia, Turkey. Turkey now becomes the seventh country to be officially included in the program.

Turkey may not be the first country outside Asia to get an Android One device since that honour belongs to the UK where Indian brand Karbonn Mobile introduced its Sparkle V smartphone late last year. However, on official basis, this is the first time Google is taking the program to any country outside Asia and may herald the company’s plans to roll out the program in Africa and Latin America as well.

Android One is hitting its second generation with the $260 device made by Turkey’s General Mobile. Turkey’s largely upmarket status means that Google’s sub-$100 plans were thwarted and it had to play ball to enter that particular market. The device has LTE though and much better specs than the first generation Android One devices so it deserves a higher price tag. Other specifications include the 16 GB onboard storage and features like dual-LED flash on the 13 MP camera (5 MP selfie) being available as well. It has a 5 inch HD IPS display, 2 GB RAM, a 64-bit Snapdragon 410 processor and runs the latest Android 5.1.1 out of the box.

 

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