$4 Android Smartphone From India To Begin Shipping Next Week (ndtv.com) 49
Earlier this year, an Indian smartphone company called Ringing Bells unveiled the Freedom 251, an entry-level Android smartphone that was priced at Rs. 251 (roughly $3.7 USD). It didn't take long for the company to stir controversy -- soon after media got the device, they learned that Ringing Bells had disguised Adcom Ikon 4s (retail price: $60) as the Freedom 251 smartphone for marketing and media reviewing purposes. The company at the time noted that it was just a sample device. Furthermore, it was clear that components in the sample device alone would cost more than Rs. 2,000 ($30). Ringing Bells, standing by its earlier commitment, has now announced that it will begin shipping the Freedom 251 handset starting next week.
The Freedom 251 unit which will ship to consumers reportedly features dual-SIM capability, 1GB of RAM, a 1.3GHz SoC from an unnamed chipset maker, 8GB of internal storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 3.2-megapixel front-facing shooter and a 1,800mAh battery. How did the company manage to get the price of the handset this cheap? In a separate interview with Times of India, the company noted that it has partnered with a number of software firms to pre-install their apps on the phone.
The Freedom 251 unit which will ship to consumers reportedly features dual-SIM capability, 1GB of RAM, a 1.3GHz SoC from an unnamed chipset maker, 8GB of internal storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 3.2-megapixel front-facing shooter and a 1,800mAh battery. How did the company manage to get the price of the handset this cheap? In a separate interview with Times of India, the company noted that it has partnered with a number of software firms to pre-install their apps on the phone.
Easy (Score:3)
I am curious how much the cost of the phone really is?
phone only? (Score:2)
can i buy just the phone? it would make an awesome screen for my arduino. If I can.t buy just the phone then the price is meaningless. Many cell plans offer free phones plus a rebate.
Re: (Score:2)
did you not RTFA (2nd link)? the market price of the phone is 1180 rupees (16 EUR), they're selling it for 251 rupees (3.33 EUR). i expect the bootloader to be locked so people can't remove the 12 preinstalled sponsor apps.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, when the labor cost is not in question, you should be wary about material quality... I understand that phone companies in the U.S. are benefiting more on their services. As a result, they do not really care how much a phone cost. Remember when there were no smart phone, these companies were giving away a phone. Phone cost is just a small benefit they (phone companies) have been getting...
Where are the $.4/mo mobile data plans? (Score:2)
Without a cheap network, cheap phones don't use much.
Re: (Score:2)
Already there. Cheapest mobile data plan in India is $0.1.
http://www.bsnl.in/opencms/bsn... [www.bsnl.in]
A Beowolf Cluster of smartphones (Score:2)
> I would buy a bunch of these and use them as servers and routers.
A Beowolf Cluster of smartphones; yay
Re: (Score:2)
So it comes with spyware then.
No doubt! Does it come with a 'Welcome to the Botnet' brochure, too?
Re: (Score:2)
let me know when it's supported by cyanogenmod
Four bucks... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Knowing this economy and how things fly today, yes. But you have to provide your own cans and find string somewhere.
Aka "some assembly required".
Money is in the software (Score:4, Insightful)
Sounds like they're making money off the other companies preinstalling apps and using that to subsidized the cost of the phone.
Re: (Score:3)
Works for me, first thing I do when getting that thing is to root it anyway.
Re: (Score:1)
No shit, Sherlock? It sounds like they are doing something which is directly mentioned in the summary? How insightful of you!
Custom ROM? (Score:3)
I am sure it is only a matter of time before people are able to buy this thing, wipe it and install a clean ROM on it.
Re: (Score:2)
I.e. replace the custom ROM with a customer ROM.
Gives you slight insight into what iphones cost. (Score:1)
Phones can be stamped out; Most of the expense is setting up the factory, after that the real cost, once you ignore licensing fees, is so low it would boggle the mind.
Re:Give you slight insight into what Ferraris cost (Score:2)
Ferraris can be stamped out; Most of the expense is setting up the factory, after that the real cost, once you ignore licensing fees, is so low it would boggle the mind.
FTFY
Re: (Score:1)
Because there are no R&D costs or anything. No, technology just pops into existence from the aether.
Emachine (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
or more like the old i-opener - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Free is even cheaper (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
At this rate (Score:1)
It shouldn't be long before someone produces a phone and then pays the consumer to use it.
1 week later... (Score:1)