Google frequently touts that the “next billion users” will come from developing nations with different focuses and needs. To that end, the company has developed a number of optimized services, with one being a “simple and consistent addressing system that works across India and globally.
In addition to opening pop-up locations in Los Angeles and New York for the 2017 Made by Google lineup, the company opened a series of similar stores in India. Given the success of those pop-ups in the key market, Google is now reportedly considering opening brick-and-mortar stores.
India, and the surrounding Southeast Asia region, is a special area of focus for Google given the potential for the “next billion users” originating there. As such, Google has created a number of country-specific apps and services, with the latest being a mobile payment service for India.
India is a big focus for Google with numerous country-specific initiatives and app optimizations. Given how the growth potential also applies to developers in the country, Google today launched a “Made for India” program to feature optimized apps in the Play Store.
Google Maps is the latest service to receive an India-specific update this week following Translate, Gboard, and Chrome. The Android app features a new home screen that loads faster and features new shortcuts for quick navigation.
India is a big market for Google, with the company creating a number of new products specifically for the country. Today, Google released a number of Translate and language-focused updates for Chrome, Search, and more.
Google is making a “massive” investment in its Android One program, designed to make pure Android devices available to customers in developing markets at affordable prices, reports the FT. It hopes “over the next few years” to bring down the retail price of Android One handsets in countries like India from the equivalent of $100 to somewhere in the $30-50 range.
Rajan Anandan, managing director in India and Southeast Asia, told the Financial Times that the company [recognized that the] much-hyped mobile standard had “not delivered to expectations” …
