Google reportedly set to launch first Android One devices in India next week

At Google I/O in June, Google announced a new line of Android One smartphones that it said would be affordable and marketed at emerging markets, such as India. The Economic Times is now reporting that Google is planning to launch its first smartphones of the Android One program as early as next week in India. The report also claims, however, that the devices will be more expensive than the initial $100 price point Google announced at I/O.

The report says that the prices for the first Android One devices will be somewhere between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000 in India, which is more than the RS 6,000 price point Google originally promised. This is apparently due to Google wanting to pack more features and apps into the devices.

One of the people directly involved in the development of the smartphones said the prices have gone higher than the initially planned sub-$100 because Google intends to offer better features and apps. “Android One is setting minimum hardware and software standards for the three vendors, who are adding or improving upon them in future devices under the Android One umbrella.”

As far as manufacturers go, the report says that Karbonn, Micromax and Spice are all teaming up with Google for the first Android One devices. Allegedly, one of the devices that could launch next week features a 1700mAh battery, a removable back cover, dual SIM slots, and an SD card slot. The first devices will supposedly be between 4.3-inches and 4.5-inches with 1GB of RAM. They will reportedly ship with Android 4.4.4 installed, but could see an Android L update this Fall.