Announcements from Google event in India include giving villages in India access to Wi-Fi connectivity for the first time and a chance to call Google Assistant on a toll-free number.
Google announced a series of fresh projects directed at making internet available in India to people and companies, such as providing villages with first-time Wi-Fi access and a free Google Assistant phone number.
The technology giant has partnered with the Indian state-owned telco company BSNL to provide Wi-Fi to the villages in Gujarat, Bihar and Maharashtra–where Wi-Fi is unprecedented.
In addition, Google has announced a new telephone service, known as the Vodafone-Idea Phone Line, together with Vodafone and Idea, that allows consumers, either who have a Vodafone link or an Idea connection, but do not have access to their smartphone or smart device, to call the Google Assistant to ask questions, either English or Hindi, at any moment.
The spot platform within the Google Pay app was also introduced during the company case in India. The platform is intended to allow companies to sell Google Pay products and services without creating a website or app.
It’s] a way for companies to generate experience with their clients and engage them through the Google payment app,” Google’s CEO and payments VP, and Caesar Sengupta’s next billion users, wrote in a blog post.
He said local providers such as UrbanClap, Goibibo, MakeMyTrip, RedBus, Eat. Fit and Oven Story already use the Spot early access program from Google.
Google also praised its latest app called Google Pay for Business, which allows merchants in India to accept internet payments, without the need for a point-of-sale system.
Google India to investigate AI opportunities
Separately, Google has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory in Bangalore to study AI using local Research Communication and Research to address issues in sectors like healthcare, agriculture and education.
The laboratory, known as Google Research India, will be headed by computer scientist Manish Gupta, a member of the Computer Machinery Association.
“The Bangalore laboratory will be part of Google’s worldwide study network and promote it: participation in meetings, publishing studies in scholarly articles and cooperating carefully,” said Google AI Vice-Chairman Jay Yagnik in a blog post.
“We are also exploring the opportunities to partner with India’s scientific research community and educational institutes to train top talent, as well as promote cooperative programs, instruments and resources.”