Lava may launch an Android One handset on 14 July for Rs 12,000

The first batch of Android One handsets which were launched last year, were quite a dud. But Google is not disheartened and is all set to launch the next batch of Android One handsets, this time around targetting users who’ve used smartphones before rather than selling to the first time buyer.

Lava International is expected to launch the first of this new batch of Android One handsets on 14 July for a mid-range price of Rs 12,000. According to a report in Economic Times, this launch event will be attended by top Google executives. There is no clarity if Sundar Pichai himself would be attending the event. Very little is known about the specifications of the handset apart from the fact that it will sport a 5-inch display, 2GB RAM and a Mediatek chipset.

Unlike the first iteration when Indian handset makers were not involved in the design process, this time around Lava and Mediatek will collaborate on hardware on software. According to source quoted in the ET report, in the first phase partners just rebranded devices from Chinese ODMs and had no say in the hardware or software, but the situation will be different this time.

Lack of availability of Android One handsets with retailers was one of the biggest strategy fail with the first wave of Android One handsets from Micromax, Karbonn and Spice. According to Ceaser Sengupta, vice president of product management at Google, the company would take measures to ensure that the devices were truly available everywhere and not just online.

So the new Android One phone from Lava will be available online as well as offline. Google is expected to spend $10 – $15 million in marketing and promotion. Google has not given any confirmation on the matter.