Alphabet is the new parent company, while the brand "Google" is now restricted to search business. Android One initiative was launched last year with the aim of making quality budget-friendly smartphones for developing markets, and first kicked off with India.

The company, yesterday launched Android One in Nigeria with a new smartphone built by Hong Kong manufacturer Infinix Mobility, in partnership with MTN Nigeria, while promising free and timely software updates for devices, including the upcoming OS Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).

Other African countries the service is expected to kick-off includes: Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Morocco.

The African expansion is seen as part of Google's ongoing plan to revitalize Android in view of the foreseen challenge Microsoft is poised to unleash with Windows 10 Mobile.

The company sets hardware specifications for third-party manufacturers in an attempt to make sure that even at a low-cost, the smartphones meets above average standards and can run the latest version of the software.

However, the Android One program failed to make much impact in India, due to the competitiveness of the market. And the reliance on a single new handset for the project was certainly unimpressive.

But with the launch of Android One in African, given the proliferation of sub-standard smartphones by Chinese companies which many are already fade-up with, may bring some level of success, even as the program's geographic horizons is widened.

Google (Ah, Alphabet) launches Android One in Nigeria & 5 other African Countries

Alphabet is the new parent company, while the brand "Google" is now restricted to search business. Android One initiative was launched last year with the aim of making quality budget-friendly smartphones for developing markets, and first kicked off with India.

The company, yesterday launched Android One in Nigeria with a new smartphone built by Hong Kong manufacturer Infinix Mobility, in partnership with MTN Nigeria, while promising free and timely software updates for devices, including the upcoming OS Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).

Other African countries the service is expected to kick-off includes: Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Morocco.

The African expansion is seen as part of Google's ongoing plan to revitalize Android in view of the foreseen challenge Microsoft is poised to unleash with Windows 10 Mobile.

The company sets hardware specifications for third-party manufacturers in an attempt to make sure that even at a low-cost, the smartphones meets above average standards and can run the latest version of the software.

However, the Android One program failed to make much impact in India, due to the competitiveness of the market. And the reliance on a single new handset for the project was certainly unimpressive.

But with the launch of Android One in African, given the proliferation of sub-standard smartphones by Chinese companies which many are already fade-up with, may bring some level of success, even as the program's geographic horizons is widened.

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