Creo, the Indian smartphone startup is all set to launch its first smartphone Mark 1 on 13th, April. The interesting feature of the smartphone is its customized Android operating system and monthly updates, which will not only fix bugs, but will also come with new features. The company in a press release said: “At CREO, we’re committed to #MakeBetter Android. And because we want to leave no stones unturned, we’re building both, the operating system and the smartphone. With our OS, we’ll send to our user’s super relevant updates that’ll keep Mark 1 running just as new.”
The Creo smartphone software features will essentially focus on providing an improved calling experience, smooth running of apps along with cellular data management and device security. The customised OS is expected to similar to that of Xiaomi and Cyanogen customised Android skins.
CREO Mark 1 features:
As of now, the Bangalore-based startup hasn’t revealed the specifications of the device, apart from its unibody structure featuring thick flat chamfered edges with two speaker grills at the bottom. The pricing is expected to be in the range of sub-Rs 10,000 competing with the likes of Xiaomi, Moto, Lenovo. The startup has reportedly raised $3M from Sequoia India and India Quotient and Beenext Ventures.
The CREO founding team’s previous startup Mango Man raised $1.75 million last year and launched an HDMI dongle tailored for the Indian market called Teewe that set itself apart from competitors like Google Chromecast. For example, Teewee was designed to automatically detect and organize media already downloaded on users PC, laptops, smartphones, and tablets, since Internet connections in India are often too unstable to support streaming content. Teewe 2, the dongle’s second version, has sold 50,000 units since launching in May 2015.
CREO also offers its customers an engraving option to have their name, anniversary date and more, embossed on the bottom left edge of the smartphone. Find out more.