Will HMD Global inaugurate the Android Go program with Nokia 1?

Not long ago, Google released the Android Go program for helping with its target of reaching the ‘next billion’. Android Go is supposed to allow OEMs make affordable devices with low-end hardware without sacrificing the user experience. The program is expected to uplift the lower-end smartphone market in developing countries such as India. However, every ambitious program needs an influential brand to initiate it. Xiaomi did that with Android One and now HMD Global’s Nokia is set to do the same for Android Go.

A report from Gizmochina states that Nokia will launch the first smartphone in the Android Go lineup. The device is expected to be named Nokia 1 and will have entry-level specifications. The Nokia 1 will be initially launched in Russia at a starting price of approximately $104 (or approximately Rs 6,669). The device is expected to be available in the market by March 2018.

The report also mentions some of the specifications to adorn the Nokia 1 — a 720p LCD display, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. It will run Android Oreo Go with all the Google Go services. The Nokia 2 is pretty similar to this rumoured smartphone running a version of stock Android 7.1 Nougat. As and when it comes to our shores, this smartphone will be sitting under the Nokia 2 and should directly compete with the likes of Xiaomi Redmi 5A and other similar budget offerings.