Android One has become a part of our broader hardware strategy: Google's Mike Hayes

NEW DELHI: Search giant Google will come up with new devices under its Android One program in India even as gives more freedom to local handset makers to come up with their own specifications and pricing. Mike Hayes, Director, Business Development, Android & Chrome Partnerships at Google told ET’s Gulveen Aulakh and Danish Khan, that a broader view of the Android One programme was being taken even as the program has been getting interest from a number of handset vendors globally. Edited excerpts:

Where is the Android One programme going in India?

Andorid One has become a part of the broader hardware strategy. Google is taking a broader view of its hardware business. So you should expect to see a position around what we are doing on low-end devices all the way through.

We still continue to support a number of OEMs (original equipment makers) that partnered with us on the programme. However, speeds at which the devices are coming to the market are completely dependent upon the OEMs.

We still have interest from a number of OEMs wanting to work with us on programmes like the Android One. The program is about mass market low-end devices, more affordability and to drive services into the market, and the premium things that we are working on with a number of OEMs.

Is it correct that the phase one partnerships – with Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice – are no longer valid?

No, by any means. We meet regularly and we have discussed Android One as one of many topics on an ongoing basis.

Do OEMs have more say in the program now?

For the initial devices that we had launched, we had put certain yardsticks in order to stand up the software, which is why you saw commonality between the specifications. But, since that time, we have had devices with different display sizes, and different chip-sets. There is freedom to choose components is now around for OEMs. The decision to procure the components to build the device is still very much taken by the OEM, as they decide everything in terms of specification, pricing, and when to launch. We work around the software elements such as bringing services and Android as a platform OS on to those devices.

Will there by more Android One devices?

It's safe to say, yes!

Why it took longer time for Google to sign a partnership with an Indian telecom operator?

When we are coming to a market, we want to work possibly with as many as we can, because it benefits the overall ecosystem of developers and consumers. A part of conversation with is about eliciting local information be it legal, regulatory, financial or tax related. There are complexities involved. We work with a lot of partners to do the due diligence around tax and legal environment, besides looking at the developer environment, and to see on what makes sense for the developer and the consumer in terms of the affordability. In countries, some carriers are more progressive, while others are still discussing various elements. So that's why it takes a little bit time when we go into a market.

In India, we earlier changed our sub-dollar pricing, which is down to as low as Rs 10. Now, the developer can set the prices as low as Rs 10. Also, we introduced Gift Cards. Now, in Idea, we have found such as strong partner in India. The feedback from the developers is overwhelmingly positive, as is the interest from the carriers.

What are the levels of talks with other telcos?

We are actively engaging with other major carriers. I can't give a specific date but we expect that in the short term, there will be several announcements that we would announcing with them. We have learnt a lot and are able to talk intelligibly what those opportunities are with the carriers.

Will the Idea partnership play a catalyst role for Google in forming new carrier billing deals?

What we found in other markets that it make simpler for other carriers to feel confident to come onboard and wanting to participate, once a telco has taken the lead. Further, other telcos who are not participating see this as another tool to offer consumer digital content that they can’t offer to, by themselves.

Can you shed some light on the revenue sharing agreements?

We have said publicly that we have given 70% revenues to developers. Google Play is a marketplace, when a developer lists an app they make money. With Google Play gaining traction traction globally, it has actually become a defacto standard that other platform operators are also offering 70% to the developers.

What kind of revenue surge you are expecting after the Idea deal?

We are quite excited about the results we have seen in the other markets. For instance, In Indonesia we have seen 4x growth in the number of buyers in 18 months. So carrier billing has played a critical role in getting more buyers on to the platform. We are seeing similar encouraging results in markets like Saudi Arabia, UAE. We expect same results in India.