You don’t need to be a Google engineer to know that high-quality video isn’t cheap — especially when you’re on a $50-per-month plan.
That’s why a couple of years ago, Google’s Android-powered camera platform, GNP Seaguros, started offering high-resolution video to developers, offering “free” access to the service to anyone with a smartphone with a high enough resolution.
Now, Google is making the service available to developers in India and other emerging markets.
Google says GNP is “the first global service with high-end high-definition video, a product that has the ability to deliver fast, quality video and to support multiple platforms” (as well as support other high-performance cameras).
The new feature comes in two versions: one that costs $15 per month, and one that only costs $5.
Google also plans to add a “feature set” that can “allow users to share and share in high-res videos, with a variety of different formats” (like 1080p HD video, for example).
“This will help us bring the quality and quality of GNP to the entire Indian population, and it will also give people the chance to learn how to create their own high-dynamic range video,” said Google India VP and vice president of marketing, Alex Pang, in a statement.
GNP also promises “optimized performance” for mobile devices, which is a bit vague, but Google is saying that it can improve “mobile video performance by optimizing the video pipeline, and optimizing the hardware.”
For the first time, Google has actually started supporting high-density video in India.
“GNP Seagate Solutions, India and GNP has partnered with the government to provide free access to high-solution video on all GNP-supported smartphones,” the statement said.
Google is offering its new service to developers and other developers with “low-end smartphones” that are at least 20 megapixels or smaller, so it’s not really a high price tag.
But if you want a cheap, low-resolution version of your mobile phone, there are still ways to get access.
For example, the company offers a $15 “Premium Pack” that allows developers to add their own custom video.
“Developers will be able to use our high-powered platform to deliver high- quality video that is optimized for each device,” Pang said.
GNp Seagate said it plans to expand this service in India “in the coming months.”