Google Philippines, a local unit of Internet giant Google, announced a partnership with local mobile phone makers Cherry Mobile and MyPhone to bring in the fastest android operating system via Android One smartphones.
Google Philippines country manager Kenneth Lingan said in a media launch Monday, Google was bullish on the fastest android operating system running on android lollipop.
“This is the fastest android which also the cheapest since it is an open, free platform that makes it all the more affordable to end-users,” he said, adding that partners Cherry Mobile and MyPhone would make Android One smartphones available in the next few weeks.
The Philippines is the sixth country to be included in the Android One program, after India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Lingan said it was vital to secure the latest mobile technology to keep with the rising volume of users in the Philippines.
“In the two years, Philippines expects to overtake Korea’s Internet population as it [Philippines] reaches 66 percent internet penetration,” he said.
The Philippines is the second largest Internet market in Southeast Asia and the sixth in Asia.
Google this year expects 10 million Filipinos engaging in the Internet for the first time using smartphones.
Lingan assured Android One phones in the Philippines would come with the latest version of Android and automatically update older versions.
Android One, he said, would address the challenge to entice more Filipinos to migrate to smartphones, such as hardware costs and specifications, access to software and data support systems.
“By partnering with phone and silicon chip makers to share design specs and manufacturing standards, we’ve been able to build phones that are not just good phones but also affordable. The latest version of Android comes directly from Google, so there is no need to worry,” Lingan said.
After the initial Android One offering by Philippine mobile phone makers, Google will tie up with mobile phones on the higher spectrum such as Acer, Alcatel OneTouch, HTC, Intex, Lava, Lenovo, Panasonic, Xolo and chipmaker Qualcomm to build more high-quality, affordable devices with different screen sizes, colors and configurations.