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Google has launched its first budget-friendly smartphone dubbed Android One, which targets first time buyers and existing budget-friendly phone fans. The handset is packed with notable specs but comes with an entry-level price tag.

For those unfamiliar with the terminology "Android One," it is a program initiated by Google executive Sundar Pichai in June. This program was designed to make entry-level and budget-friendly smartphones without compromising the features. Apparently, this is achieved by keeping a control on the hardware and software of the device. This is a philosophy applied in Apple devices, and Google is trying to do to do the same to provide high-end smartphone experience at an inexpensive price, says The Economic Times.

On Sunday, Flipkart, India's famous online retailer, leaked the information pertaining to the "Android One Dream UNO Mi-498" handset by Spice (device manufacturer). Yes, the aforementioned handset moniker is the official name of the Android One device, according to GSM Arena. However, a recent update from the site AndroidOS states that the phone will be called "Spice Dream UNO."

Going by the leaked information, the Android One Dream UNO Mi-498 handset is reportedly priced at INR 6,999 that roughly translates to US$114 and AUD 127. The Android One smartphone features a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display with 854 x 480 pixels screen resolution. The device is powered by a quad-core MediaTek SoC clocked at 1.3 GHz and Mali 400 GPU and is backed by 1 GB of RAM. The phone runs on Android v4.4.4 KitKat OS out of the box.

Furthermore, the Android One smartphone sports a 5 MP rear-facing camera unit with LED flash and a 2 MP front-facing shooter for selfies. In addition, it can support full HD video recording and 5x digital zoom. The phone is equipped with only 4 GB of RAM; however, there is a microSD card slot that allows expansion up to 32 GB. The device also houses a Li-Po 1700 mAh battery unit that can provide up to 10 hours of talk time and 160 hours of stand-by time. The handset supports dual-SIM mode with micro-SIM slots housed under the hood.

So far there is no official statement on the international availability of the Android One device from Google.

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