The update might take some time to reach all handsets

Feb 24, 2015 10:11 GMT  ·  By

Google’s Android One initiative was meant to provide the search giant with tools to enhance its grasp of the smartphone market in developing countries.

The handsets launched under the Android One banner are offered with pretty basic specs, but on the bright side of things, they offer the near-stock Android experience tweakers crave so much.

On top of that, when the first Android One smartphones were launched, Google said the family would be among the first to receive updates, pretty much in the vein of the Nexus bunch.

It has been more than 3 months since Android 5.0 Lollipop came along and Google did nothing to update the existing Android One phones. So device manufacturers like LG, Motorola and Samsung beat Google to a punch in providing software updates to their models.

Lollipop finally reaches Android One phones in India

Well, this is not the case anymore, as Google’s own Caesar Sengupta announced on its Google Plus account that the Lollipop roll-out has started to go out for a small number of phones in India, including the Micromax Canvas A1, Karbonn Sparkle V and Spice Dream One.

He goes on to mention that this is the gradual process, so not all users will get the update right away. The company plans to release the new build on a weekly basis, so don’t fret if you don’t see notifications on your handset yet.

Although Sengupta doesn't specifically mention which version of Android Lollipop is being pushed onto the Android One host, we can only guess we’re talking about Android 5.1.

Android One handsets with 5.1 version installed on top are already being shipped out in Indonesia and Google just rolled out two more models with the same OS in the Philippines.

So it makes sense to assume the OTA coming to Micromax Canvas A1, Karbonn Sparkle V and Spice Dream Uno is of the Android 5.1 variety.

For the rest of the world, it appears that Android 5.1 will be pushed out sometime in March, so if you’re not in India or Indonesia or Philippines, you still have some time to wait until Google’s latest and greatest reaches you.

If you’re curious about the changes you’re going to witness when the new build comes along, take a moment to review one of our earlier stories.

Android One phones (6 Images)

Karbonn Sparkle V, frontal view
Karbonn Sparkle V, sideSpice Dream One, frontal view
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