Google has partnered with Indian phone vendors such as Micromax, Intex, Lava, Karbonn, among others, to launch cheap smartphones based on its Android Oreo (Go edition) operating system, say multiple sources.
Micromax is expected to launch its phone based on Android Oreo Go at around Rs 2,000 apiece ($31) later in January with other vendors to follow in the weeks after. The average price of a 4G smartphone today is around $100 (nearly Rs 6,400).
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The Micromax launch “might be on Republic Day or around it,” said a source close to the company, not authorised to comment on the subject.
Half of all phones sold in India, be they smart or feature phones, are under the $32 mark. The Go phones, however, will have the advantage of a true and pure Google experience.
The phones have 1GB of RAM (or even half) and as little as 8GB of storage – dedicated slimmed-down versions of Google’s core apps make this possible
 operating system, say multiple sources.){kind=link}