Hardware

In NBU markets around the world, the internet is a phone, rendering the NBUs mobile-first or, in many cases, mobile-only. According to a 2019 report published by the World Advertising Research Center (WARC), almost three-quarters of all internet users around the world will access the web solely through their smartphones by the year 2025.

Mobile internet has connected remote populations, affording unprecedented access to education, health care, government services, job training, agricultural efficiency, and more. Mobile has added trillions to the global economy, much of it due to sustained growth in emerging NBU markets, and it’s raised millions of individuals out of poverty and into the formal economy along the way.

Almost three-quarters of all internet users around the world will access the web solely through their smartphones by the year 2025.

Global Findex Database.

The proliferation of the mobile internet among NBU markets can be credited in large part to the growing availability of low-cost, entry-level smartphones, many of which are made by our partners at Jio, Nokia and others. The newest of these devices can cost as little as $25 while delivering capabilities of much more expensive smartphones, thanks in part to Android-based apps that are specifically designed to run quickly and smoothly on entry-level devices.

Moreover, the widening availability of 4G broadband has made data costs more affordable in many NBU markets — data is now 96% less expensive in India than it was just six years ago — enabling even more people to own and use a smartphone.

In 2021, we partnered with Indian telecom Jio to launch the JioPhone Next — an affordable smartphone built for India that will open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the internet for the very first time. This is a testament to Jio’s role in helping to make technology accessible and helpful for everyone.

Nokia, another of our valued partners, has contributed to helping many new internet users own a smartphone: by creating simple, low-cost devices and enabling quality apps to work on those devices. For example, Nokia made Camera Go the default camera app in Nokia 1.3 and Nokia 1.4, affordable, easy-to-use phones that run on Android Go. This means that even on entry-level devices, millions can have access to a great camera app that takes high-quality photos.

For the novice internet user, these affordable yet quality mobile devices built by Jio, Nokia, and others promise a positive and valuable first internet experience that will play a huge role in bolstering their digital confidence. Additionally, the lessons we learn will influence hardware design as similar devices are manufactured and made available to more NBU markets in the near future.

Access

Internet access is a basic human right. But the goal of providing equitable and inclusive internet access to everyone remains unmet.

Building inclusive products

Conducting user research, whether it’s on-the-ground or virtual, helps designers better understand the people they aim to serve.

Content

Everyone should be able to find the info they need online, but not everyone can. Find out why.

Designing for confidence

Inclusive digital design can help novice internet users grow their digital confidence.

Ecosystems

Everybody who works in tech can help create a more inclusive, equitable internet for everyone, everywhere.

Financial inclusion

Financial inclusion goes beyond financial access. It’s about empowering, creating opportunities, and accelerating progress.

Growth in Africa

The growth of Africa’s internet economy will shape how everyone uses the internet in the future.

Hardware

The next billion internet users are mobile-first or mobile-only, which makes their smartphone a key part of their digital experience.

Immersion

Teams who immerse themselves in the communities they aim to reach are more likely to build successful products.

Jobs

Tech has the potential to fundamentally change the way employers and job-seekers interact in every kind of market.

Knowledge

It’s the tech community’s responsibility to support novice internet users as they learn how to be online.

Language

Most internet content is published in English. Learn how tech innovations are changing that.

Motorcycle Mode in Maps

Built for the next billion users, Motorcycle Mode in Google Maps shows how developers Google can improve existing services to meet evolving user needs.

Navigating a smartphone

From tapping, to pinching, to swiping, and more—developers can help unlock the value of a smartphone.

Optimizing for Offline

Novice internet users can better access the benefits of the internet with offline capabilities and “lite” versions of apps.

Privacy

We’re developing new ways to protect people’s privacy when they share devices with friends and family.

Questions

It’s our responsibility to help answer the questions of novice internet users—so they’re empowered when they go online.

Reality vs Perception

We’re helping educate novice internet users in order to prevent misconceptions and empower people when they spend time online.

Google Search is a key part of a novice internet user’s experience—providing access to everything from news, medical services, recipes, entertainment, and more.

Teaching

Novice internet users often learn how to use the internet and their smartphones through their friends and family. Learn more about their experiences.

Upboarding

Many novice internet users don’t know common digital symbols and functions. Upboarding helps grow digital literacy by meeting users where they are.

Voice

Developing enhancements for voice tools can help grow the internet and bring more people around the world online.

Women

The barriers women face are disproportionately higher compared to their male counterparts. We have the opportunity to empower women and help close the gap.