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For proof: Google Android One
Hamilton, Laura
Friday, January 20, 2017 2:25 PM
In sentence that begins “Google first launched…” serial comma after “Nepal”
That’s it. BTW, if you hear anything about Android One’s VR capabilities, will you let me know? Thanks.
Laura Hamilton | Editor, CED
Advantage Business Media
Direct: (973) 920-7689 | Mobile: (720) 971-8685
www.cedmagazine.com
Goovaerts, Diana
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Hamilton, Laura
Sent Items
Friday, January 20, 2017 2:17 PM
Google Planning To Bring Android One Brand to U.S.
In the wake of its fall launch of the flashy, high-end Pixel smartphone, Google is reportedly planning to bring its more budget-friendly Android One line to the states.
According to a report from The Information, the expected launch of the first device in the U.S. Android One line will happen sometime in the first half of 2017. It will be manufactured by an as yet unknown company, and will come with a price tag in the $200-$300 range.
“As Google stops the Nexus brand and continues its pure Android experience with a flagship pixel line-ups from last year, this American OS provider and a smartphone vendor might need to fill the market with mid to high-tier Android One smartphones, which might explain why Google is looking to unveil the mid-priced Android One smartphones in countries like the U.S.,” Strategy Analytics’ Woody Oh wrote in a Thursday blog post.
Unlike budget Android devices from other device vendors, Google offers Android One users the assurance of regular software and security updates in the 24 months follow each device’s sale date.
Google first launched Android One devices back in September 2014 with initial roll outs in India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nepal and a handful of other South Asian countries. The company followed up by pushing Android One into Nigeria, Portugal, and Spain in 2015 and Japan in 2016.
By introducing Android One in the United States, Google may be able to expand on the success of the $650 Pixel by offering its brand name and security assurance at a lower price point.
According to data from Wave7 Research, Evercore ISI and others compiled by Bloomberg, Google shipped 552,000 Pixel devices in the fourth quarter, pulling in around $386 million in revenue. Pixel activity was particularly heavy at official-Pixel partner Verizon, where the device accounted for just over 12 percent of phone activations in the quarter.
Back in November, Morgan Stanley predicted Google’s Pixel success would carry over into 2017, helping the company rake in an estimated $3.8 billion in the coming months from forecasted sales of between 5 million and 6 million.
Though some of Pixel’s success might be attributed to the failure of high-end peer device the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the latter’s recall could also make room for Google to make gains from Samsung in lower tiers as well.
Immediately following the Note 7 recalls, Branding Brand released a report indicating just over a third of Samsung customers said they won’t buy another smartphone from the company.
