The launch of Android One smartphones by India-based vendors in their local market starting September will affect sales of current models priced at around INR6,000 (US$98) as well as low-priced models offered by Samsung Electronics, according to Digitimes Research.
Google's push to launch Android One phones in India is not aimed at expanding the market share of Android OS, but rather to strengthen its control over the Android OS and end-market devices in the India market, a business model which Google can extend to other emerging markets.
Meanwhile, most brand vendors are releasing more mid-range to entry-level 3G and 4G handsets for the fourth quarter of 2014 in order to minimize the impact of the new iPhone devices on sales of their high-end models.
However, most vendors are pushing sales of their 3G models to emerging markets, while promoting 4G models to China and Europe, which will help eliminate competition in the China market, Digitimes Research commented.
