Google for India 2018: Know all the major announcements made at the event

Google is also renaming Tez, a digital payments app made for India as Google Pay to expand it beyond the country.

Google today announced a series of initiatives at its annual 'Google for India' event in New Delhi to enhance products and services for Indian users.

The major announcements include:

• Google Station is partnering Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited to cover over 12,000 villages, towns, and cities in the state of Andhra Pradesh, potentially reaching 10 million people. This will provide high-quality internet access to areas that have never been connected before, from hospitals to villages.
• In an attempt to improve the smartphone experience in India, Google's Indian hardware partners (on Android) such as Micromax, Lava, Nokia, and Transsion are creating Android (Go edition) phones at prices within reach of more Indians.

Our partners are joining us on the Android Go mission, to help improve the smartphone experience for everyone. #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/WBuBEc5Ray

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) August 28, 2018

(Video Credit: Google India)

• Google is launching a new feature in Google Go that lets you listen to web pages. Powered by natural language processing and speech synthesis AI, this technology can read billions of web pages smoothly in a natural sounding voice. It supports 28 languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi, and Tamil, even on 2G connections.
• To provide users with access to great content in their native tongues, Google has started a project called Navlekhā, a word derived from Sanskrit meaning "a new way to write." This project comprises a tool that uses AI to render any PDF containing Indian language content into editable text, making it easy for print publishers to create mobile-friendly web content. It also provides Indian language publishers with free web hosting with AdSense support, so they can immediately start monetizing their content.
• Moreover, the company is also expanding language support in its existing apps and services.The Search feed will now display favorite news from both English and Hindi sources, using AI that learns which types of stories you like best. On the Google Assistant, the tech giant is also adding Marathi (with seven more Indian languages coming soon) and even more Indian apps—like Where Is My Train, Airtel, and Hello English—making them available through the convenience of voice control.
• To deliver better guidance to public transport riders in India, Google has partnered with RedBus, India's largest inter-city bus ticketing service. More than 20,000 inter-city bus routes in 1,500 cities will be added to Google Maps.
• Google is also renaming Tez, a digital payments app made for India as Google Pay to expand it beyond the country. Furthermore, Google is also expanding services for merchants, and working with banks to provide instant loans to Google Pay users.

Tez has had a change of name, but all your favourite features still stay the same. Say hello to #GooglePay. #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/WNAGg9yVQy

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) August 28, 2018