Google launches Android One devices in India from Micromax, Karbonn and Spice

After a lot of speculation finally Sundar Pichai is in New Delhi to announce a whole lot of new services and devices for India. This include the big launch of the Android One smartphones which they introduced back at Google I/O in June, YouTube Offline and the availability of Play Newsstand in India. 

Partnering with Spice, Karbonn and Micromax they launched 3 devices, Karbonn Sparkle V, Micromax Canvas A1 and Spice Dream UNO Mi-498 today. These devices will be available exclusively through online retailers Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon respectively. These three phones will also be available via Reliance Digital, Croma and The Mobile Store, offline. The phones will be available for purchase online starting September 15, 3:30pm IST. 

Under the Android One scheme Google essentially sets standards for phones hardware for the OEMs. Also phones running Android One will be just like GPE and Nexus devices receiving constant and regular updates directly from Google. Google will also have Wi-Fi-equipped mobile demo trucks called 'Showroom on wheels' in 600 locations across 20 cities to allow potential consumers to experience the Android One phones. Google has also appointed 30,000 Android One ambassadors who will spread the word about the phones. Google also partnered with Airtel and Reliance to provide plans to Android One customers. Airtel will offer 200MB free data per month for app downloads and updates via Play Store. 

In terms of specifications, all the three manufactures have adhered to the minimum requirements set by Google. The phones have a 4.5-inch display (845 x 480 pixels), dual SIM support and run a stock version of Android 4.4. Hardware specifications include a quad core Mediatek processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage, microSD card for expansion (up to 32GB supported) and dual cameras. This specification set ensures a fluid experience for the user, as opposed to many cheaper Android phones that are already.

Karbonn Sprkle V

Micromax Canvas A1

Spice Dream Uno

Also chipset manufacturer Qualcomm is the new hardware partner for the Android One Program which means that future devices will likely see Qualcomm processors in addition to the current Mediatek. 

Sundar Pichai also announced the next set of partners for Android One handsets. This includes Acer, Alcatel, ASUS, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic and Xolo. This list includes HTC also which realises the benefits of tapping the low-end market instead of being one of the market leaders for the high-end smartphones. Also Google is expected to release Android One Indonesia, Philippines and other South Asian countries by 2014 with more to follow in 2015.

The phones are now available on all the 3 online sellers and will soon make their way to the offline stores. 

Buy now: Micromax, Karbonn and Spice

Learn more: Android One

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Micromax Launches Micromax Unite : A Competitor to Moto E

After a few days of the launch of MotoE in India, Micromax launched Micromax Unite 2 A106 at about the same price and to give a tough competition to the former.

Back Cover of MMX Unite 2

2000mAh Battery, Dual SIM & microSD Card Slot

First take a look at the specifications.

·         Display: 4.7 inches IPS LCD panel with 800x480 resolution (199ppi)

·         Battery: 2000mAh

·         Storage: 4GB, expandable via microSD card

·         Camera:  5MP rear with autofocus and flash, 2MP front

·         SoC: Mediatek MT6582

·         CPU: 1.3GHz quad-core

·         GPU: Mali-400MP2

·         RAM: 1GB

·         Operating system: Android 4.4.2

·         Connectivity: 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Dual-SIM

The Unite A092 is available on Flipkart for Rs. 6,249, while Snapdeal is selling it at Rs. 6,068.

Top View showing Headphone Jack and Data-syncing and Charging Port

Its full glass finish gives it a premium look in the front with rubberized plastic cover on the back. This comes with almost stock Android KitKat 4.4.2 out-of-the-box with some Micromax apps pre-installed.

Android KitKat UI on Unite 2

Ability to Select one of the 20 Languages and a view of MAD App

It also has MAD app that lets you earn recharge credits just by watching adverts. The handset support 20 regional languages which make is quite necessary for a country like India and also extending its reach to a much bigger market of non-Hindi and non-English speaking areas.

For the price that it is offered, Unite 2 is a steal in this segment. I am not saying that Unite 2 is better than Moto E but I am also not saying that in some areas it surpasses the performance of Moto E. With Micromax Unite 2 we know that the company was quite careful while designing this phone.

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Micromax's new flagship Canvas Gold goes on sale!!!!

After quite a time Micromax's new octa-core smartphone Micromax Canvas Gold A300 goes on sale at infibeam for Rs.24,000. Although it's not officially announced by Micromax but the phone is running the latest version of Android i.e KitKat 4.4.2 with a MediaTek processor along with 2GB of RAM.

Micromax Canvas Gold A300

Micromax Canvas Gold A300 has 5.5-inch full HD display. It has a 16MP shooter with auto focus and flash on the back and a 5MP camera in the front. Camera has a Sony Image Sensor and the smartphone comes with 32GB of built-in storage.

16MP Auto focus Camera

Connectivity parameters include 2G, 3G. WiFi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. For more details check out the listing on infibeam.

Ultra Slim Design

Its the second octa-core phone from Micromax after the Canvas Knight and will be up against Intex Aqua Octa, Gionee Elife E7 Mini and Titanium Octane Plus in the mid-range segment.

Android KitKat 4.4.2

Share your views in the comment section below.

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Micromax launches Windows Phones

After the announcement at the Microsoft's Build Conference 2014 held at San Francisco about new OEM's including Micromax, they finally launched 2 new phones in the Canvas series Canvas Win W091 and W121 based on Windows 8.1. These smartphones are priced surprisingly below the Nokia Lumia series and so will be giving a stiff competition in this process segment. The smartphones are priced at Rs. 6,500 and Rs. 9,500 respectively and will be available in the markets from July.
First take a look at the Micromax Canvas Win W121. It has an impressive 5-inch IPS HD display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 1.2GHzquad-core processor. It also has 1GB of RAM. The W121 has an 8MP rear camera with flash and a 2MP front camera. It comes with 8GB of capacity expandable to 32GB. It also has dual-sim capability.

Micromax Canvas Win W121

The only difference in Micromax Canvas Win W091 is its 4-inch IPS WVGA display. Also it has a 5MP rear camera with LED flash and 0.3MP front-facing camera.

Micromax Canvas Win W091

“Expanding our partner ecosystem and making it easier to bring Windows Phones to new markets at, more price points remains a top priority. Several of our new partners such as BLU, InFocus, Prestigio and Yezz unveiled Windows Phones 8.1 devices at Computex a few weeks ago. These new devices are a result of the announcement we made back in February at Mobile World Congress with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and $0 Windows for devices smaller than 9-inches in size which has enabled partners to more quickly and efficiently bring Windows Phones in to their mobile devices portfolio.”, says Microsoft in its official blog.

Recently the smartphone companies including local brands are looking for alternatives to Google's Android OS. Samsung has already displayed smartphone Samsung Z based on Tizen OS, XOLO and Micromax are working on Windows platform and Intex and Spice are looking to bring Firefox OS in the country.

Do you think windows smartphones will come close to giving a tough fight to Android? Give your views in the comments section below.

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