Google to make data usage free for some apps on its Android One handsets

Close on the heels of **Facebook announcing the Internet.org** in partnership with Reliance Communications, Google is also planning to make data usage free with certain apps specifically on its Android One handsets. According to a report in The Information, Google is planning to entice first time smartphone customers who want to buy Android One handsets by not charging any money for some apps. The Android One handsets are meant for developing markets such as India where a lot of people are still using feature phones. The whole idea behind Android One, was to make people buy their first smartphone, which would get updates right from Google rather than OEMs. Google has also started to sell Android One **devices in Indonesia** . India hasn’t seen an explosive growth as far as Android One handsets are concerned, and this ‘zero rating’ data usage for some applications might just improve the situation. Zero rating data usage means that certain apps will not be charged any data rates in your monthly bill cycle and it will not consume any data from data-plans which you may have purchased. Google is in talks with various third party developers and wireless carriers to bring in the zero rating system with some apps. The report states that apps such as Flipkart, Snapdeal, Redbus and Ola cabs are partnering with Google to get the zero-rating status. Telecom service providers have been following this policy for a while now, where they offer app-specific plans such as a WhatsApp pack, Facebook pack and so on. Google is planning to take off the money factory from the equation. We shall wait and see how this pans out and if it will, indeed boost Android One sales in India.