Google In partnership with device manufacturer Infinix have launched the Android One program in Nigeria, this is in line with Google’s initiative to deliver high quality smartphones into the hands of billions of people in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world.
The Android one program is a Google program where it partners with phone manufacturing companies to crate high-quality but low-cost Android smartphone, the program was first announced in India by the present Google CEO, Sundar Pichai in 2014.
Caesar Sengupta, VP Product Management at Google said “over three billion people across the world are using the internet to live better, richer lives and create opportunities for themselves and their communities. The driving force behind this growth – particularly in Nigeria and many other African countries – is smartphones. In Nigeria, over 70% of online users access the web via their phones. Android One offers high quality mobile devices that are great to use, but that are also affordable.”
The new Infinix Hot 2 which is a successor to the Infinix Hot is the first device to enroll into the Android One program in Nigeria and in Africa. Devices under the Android One program still use the Android OS so people don’t get confused thinking it’s another version of Android.
When you buy the Android One device, you get the pure, unmodified version of Android and its full performance as opposed to the customized versions you get from brands like Samsung, LG, HTC and others. These brands make additions to and also remove features from the bare Android versions and replace them with user interface and apps such that you do not get exactly the Android Google wants you to have.
For Android One phones, Google decides on the selection of both the hardware and the software. The software does not have any third-party user interface or unnecessary features or bloatware, also some extra customisations are added to the Android version to make it more adaptable to low-end hardware so that users get the Android experience designed by Google.
One of the advantages of the Android One program is that the devices are likely going to get the latest updates of the new Android versions first. That means that the Infinix Hot 2 which runs on Lollipop version will get the update to the new Android Marshmallow when it’s available unlike every other mid-range devices that do not get software upgrade.
Google also announced the availability of the new Google search app which is faster and somewhat light on data consumption. Offline navigation on Google map and the Youtube Offline playback which allows you save a YouTube video and watch later were also announced and to be expected in the coming weeks.
The Infinix Hot 2 will be sold online via Jumia.com.ng at the retail price of N17,500.
