Android One reaches PH shores

Created to target first time smartphone buyers in developing countries, Android One is Google's hardware reference platform for low-cost handsets. And the good news is, the technology already reached the country.

Cherry Mobile, Google's official partner for Android One in the Philippines, said they have released not one but two smartphone models in the Android One category.

Cherry Mobile's latest Android One smartphone G1 offers 16-GB internal storage, 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera, among others. It is retailed for P5,999.

For more of G1's specs, watch Cherry Mobile Product Manager Lorraine Javalera in this smartphone demo on ANC's Future Perfect.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Lazada, Cherry Mobile team up for Cubix

MANILA -- Cosmic Technologies Inc., the company behind the Cherry Mobile brand, has formed a partnership with online shopping portal Lazada for marketing Cubix, the company’s first exclusive online brand.

With the growing shift towards e-commerce, Cosmic Technologies president and CEO Maynard Ngu said they are positioning Cubix to become a significant contributor in the growing online market.

“We believe that Lazada has the right e-commerce strategy and expertise to help bring awareness to the Cubix brand. We are also confident that with the strong logistics capability and the wide cash-on-delivery network, CUBIX will be enjoyed by Filipinos nationwide,” Ngu said in a press briefing last Friday.

For his part, Lazada Philippines CEO Inanc Balci said its partnership with Cosmic Technologies is in line with the company's thrust to enhance its presence in mobile commerce. He said Lazada is focusing on mobile commerce because of the upsurge in the use of smartphones by Filipinos. “Furthermore, access to connectivity because of the strong presence of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) has strengthen mobile commerce in the Philippines,” he.

“Cosmic Technologies has been our partner since Lazada started in the Philippines. We at Lazada are very much excited to be part of this milestone and bring Cubix to Filipinos nationwide,” Balci added.

Ngu noted that the launch of CUBIX is an opportunity for Cosmic Technologies to increase its target consumers, specially those looking for their next smartphone.

Cubix is powered by Android Kitkat with a crisp 5-inch high definition On Cell Display. Photo aficionados will have a lovely time taking pictures with its 13MP Camera and selfies will look good with its 5MP front camera.

A 1.4 GhzOcta Core processor coupled with a 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM, the Cubix can deliver faster processing speed and can handle resource hungry apps with ease.

All Cubix devices will have the Lazada app which enables online consumers to purchase other items from the convenience of their mobile device.

The Cubix Cub will be available exclusively on Lazada starting June 26 for P4,490.

Flare

Meanwhile, Cherry Mobile also recently launched Flare, its latest Octa-Core smartphone, at another event.

“As a leader in the local tech industry, Cherry Mobile feels that it is our duty to produce world-class, yet affordable, mobile devices for everyone. In fact, we want to continue to break the standard by offering the best all-in-one device at competitive price points,” product manager Lonson Alejandrino during its Overdrive Circuit event.

He said the launch of the Flare X is consistent with the company’s mission of providing value-for-money devices, adding that Cherry Mobile toured various locations around the country to analyze the consumer’s wants and needs to help it manufacture devices that meet such demands.

“The grassroots project resulted to the company being able to pin-point entertainment, imaging, gaming, and being social ready as they key factors being considered by its consumers, aside from the ultimate factor of affordability. These results have led to Cherry Mobile’s release of its newest device, the Cherry Mobile Flare X,” Alejandrino said.

Powered by a 1.7GHz Octa Core processor with 3GB of RAM, the Flare X addresses all four needs. It also fits well with mobile gamers and entertainment buffs as it boast of its 5.5-inch IPS Full HD screen,coupled with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection, for maximum graphic display quality.

It has a retail price of P 6,999.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

How Google plans to give every Filipino Internet access

MANILA - Google on Tuesday launched the Android One line of affordable smartphones in the Philippines, as it aims to provide easy Internet access to every Filipino.

In an event held in Makati City, the tech giant revealed the entry-level smartphones will be distributed by local partners Cherry Mobile and MyPhone in the next few weeks.

The smartphones -- Cherry One and MyPhone Uno -- will feature the latest version of Android Lollipop, billed as the "fastest, most responsive Android experience ever."

It will also come with the company's new user interface, and additional features to help conserve data and battery life.

"We want to see a future where every single Filipino is introduced to the Internet," said Kenneth Lingan, Google's country manager for the Philippines.

According to the company, there are 44 million Filipinos connected to the Internet. The number is six million shy of half of the country's total population, which breached the 100 million mark last July.

Google also expects that an additional 10 million Filipinos will be able to have first-time access to the Internet in 2015, propelling the country ahead of South Korea in terms of Internet population.

Lingan explained that having the Internet accessible to as many Filipinos as possible would not only benefit overseas Filipino workers and their families, but also have a lasting effect to the country's economy.

For instance, in the agricultural sector, farmers can tap online tools to find information to improve their yields, creating a more efficient workforce.

"Imagine this happening in every sector in our country," Lingan said.

 

'The Android One initiative'

The Philippines is the sixth country to have access to Google's line of affordable smartphones, after India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

The Android One is an initiative launched by Google in India last September, in an attempt to make smartphones and consequently, Internet access, available to more consumers in developing countries.

It is a "reference platform" that allows device makers and local manufacturers to easily make low-cost smartphones.

Caesar Sengupta, Google Vice President of Product Management, likened the Android One initiative to "your favorite grandmother's recipe" of the local popular dish, pork adobo.

Simply put, he said Google provides the recipe, and their partners choose the ingredients.

"If you're making adobo, you want to pick the right pork. You start with a great recipe, put in the right ingredients, and you will get fantastic results," he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cherry Mobile launches 'phablet ng bayan'

MANILA -- Cherry Mobile recently made major announcements during its exclusive #3Peat event, highlighted by the introduction of its Awesome 5 ng Bayan promo and developer initiative, Pinoy App Shop.

The company also introduced the Flare 3, a popular phablet from Cherry Mobile’s affordable Android phone line, which is powered by a 1.3 Ghz Quad-Core processor and equipped with Android KitKat 4.4.

Nicknamed “Phablet ng Bayan,” the Flare 3 allows easy navigation through its seamless architecture especially with its five-inch qHD IPS OGS scratch-resistant screen display. Shooting photos becomes a pleasant experience because of its 8-megapixel BSI back-camera, while its front-camera boasts of a 3-megapixel camera. The new Flare 3 also allows you to pick the color that best fits your style as it comes in five different colors – black, white, silver, red and blue.

Flare 3’s memory capacity is boosted with its 8GB built-in memory and an expandable Micro SD of up to 64GB, to allow users to store more mobile applications, photos, music and videos. For better web browsing, the dual-Sim Flare 3 is also coupled with the Enhanced High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) and is WiFi and Bluetooth (BT3.0) capable.

To complement the launch of their newest phone, Cherry Mobile also introduced its anniversary promo that includes four other best-selling phones coupled with discounts. Joining the Flare 3, priced at P3,999, in the Awesome 5 ng Bayan group will be the Fusion Aura at P1,999; Ruby at P2,499; Life 2.0 at P2,999; and Omega Icon at P4,999.

Meanwhile, the Pinoy App Shop provides the opportunity Filipino app developers to make their hard-works available for public usage. The company said this is their manifestation of support for local app developers and their creative ideas. The app shop will be embedded in Cherry Mobile handsets.

Poch Zenarosa, head of marketing of Cherry Mobile, said the mobile manufacturer has continued to produce wide varieties of stylish and sensible feature phones, smartphones and tablets that caters to the needs of a huge portion of the market and at the same time maintaining its competitive prices.

”Only on their fifth year, the company has truly revolutionized the local mobile market as it puts high priority on its products and its customers,” she said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Local game developer partners with Cherry Mobile

MANILA -- In its aim to develop more games for the local market, third-party game developer Anino Games recently announced that it will be releasing this month Cherry Dots for Android phones.

In a press briefing held in its Makati office, Anino Games chief executive Neil Dagondon said the company has formed a partnership with mobile phone maker Cherry Mobile to distribute the game to the local market. The game will be pre-installed on Cherry mobile phones.

“We are excited to have Cherry Mobile as a partner. With their support, we will be able to promote Filipino-made games to the local market,” said Dagondon.

Dagondon said Anino Games decided to pattern the latest project after Puzzle Dots to accommodate Cherry Mobile’s wide portfolio of Android devices with different processing power and memory sizes.

Puzzle Dots, developed by Anino Games, won the Best Mobile Game in the Philippine Game Development Awards 2013.

In order to entice a bigger number of Filipino gamers, Dagondon said Anino Games customized the game to include social features such as leaderboards and integrated Globe Telecom’s purchasing API so players can buy in-game currency without need of a credit card. Meanwhile, payment integration for Smart Communication subscribers will be available in future releases.

The game also has a version for the iPhone and iPad named Sago Express, a puzzle game that challenges the player to eliminate as many sago patterns from the board. With every successful find, a player can gain extra time to keep on searching, and coins to help a gamer a purchase power-ups to help him or her advance their score.

Dagondon said Cherry Dots and Sago Express will be available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store this month.

Some of the other games developed by Anino Games include Delicious 9: Emily’s Honeymoon Cruise, Manila Rush, Through Andrea’s Eyes, Grave Mania: Pandemic Pandemonium, Robot Bop and Fossil Finder.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com