Google's India-born chief Sundar Pichai Thursday said the prices of entry-level smartphones
in India need to come down further to around $30 to improve access to the Internet and
digital services for people.
in India need to come down further to around $30 to improve access to the Internet and
digital services for people.
local language support and improving connectivity in India as the country becomes a global player
in the 'digital economy'.
in the 'digital economy'.
"I would love to see cheaper smartphones, entry-level smartphones. I think to really we need to
bring the prices down even more, maybe at $30 level (about Rs. 2,000) for India for entry level
smartphones," he said addressing an audience of 3,500 students and teachers.
bring the prices down even more, maybe at $30 level (about Rs. 2,000) for India for entry level
smartphones," he said addressing an audience of 3,500 students and teachers.
to launch high-quality, yet affordable Android devices for consumers in emerging markets like
India. A few handsets were launched with partners like Micromax, Karbonn and Spice.
India. A few handsets were launched with partners like Micromax, Karbonn and Spice.
The devices launched that time were priced at Rs. 6,399 onwards, but since then many more
affordable smartphones with better specifications have hit the market. Currently, there are
smartphones available even for sub-Rs. 1,000 but most of the aspirational devices are priced
above Rs. 3,000.
affordable smartphones with better specifications have hit the market. Currently, there are
smartphones available even for sub-Rs. 1,000 but most of the aspirational devices are priced
above Rs. 3,000.
through "effective public-private partnerships".
He cited examples like partnership with RailTel for offering Wi-Fi services at railway stations and
with NPCI for digitising payments. When asked about by when India would be able to catch up
with China on the digital front, Pichai said he is confident that India will be a global player in the
digital economy.
with NPCI for digitising payments. When asked about by when India would be able to catch up
with China on the digital front, Pichai said he is confident that India will be a global player in the
digital economy.
He added that the startups in India, that is building products for India and the world, will ensure
that happens. Stating that connectivity is "extraordinarily important", Pichai said Google is also
working on a number of projects like Internet Saathi to educate people on Internet, especially in
rural areas, as well as to get them online.
that happens. Stating that connectivity is "extraordinarily important", Pichai said Google is also
working on a number of projects like Internet Saathi to educate people on Internet, especially in
rural areas, as well as to get them online.
"We have made progress today in Android, with search, we support many languages but we
want to do all that better so that it works even in rural situations with the right dialects and so
on," he said.
want to do all that better so that it works even in rural situations with the right dialects and so
on," he said.
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