Google at its I/O developer conference on Wednesday stated about a new program that's focused on software, rather than just smartphones - Android Go, with the goal of making Android better able to cater for users on entry-level phones.
Android Go is designed to run better on phones with limited hardware, starting off with Android O, which is the next iteration of the hugely popular mobile software.
It's rather a streamlined version of Android, featuring Google’s core apps like Play Store in a self-container, and enables Data Saving mode by default, especially beneficial for regions with costly and limited Internet connectivity.
Unlike the earlier program, Android One, which was to teach OEMs in emerging markets on how to make high-quality, and yet affordable, phones.
While hardware isn't the core issue anymore, the software has to be tuned up for the needs of a lower quality screen, with barely enough storage like less than 1GB of memory.
This means that regular apps like YouTube and Maps, as well as the Google Play store for downloading apps, will need to become more efficient in regards to data usage and spotty internet connections.
Android Go aims for people on the Go, with a special version of the Play store that will highlights apps data usage, for instance, apps with offline mode. And for Google, reaching the next 5 billion is crucial to making sure its businesses continue to grow.
