Vodafone have launched what they say is the world's cheapest mobile phone - which will sell for under £10 in the developing world.
The Vodafone 150: the world's cheapest phone, according to the company.
The Vodafone 150 will launch in India, Turkey, Qatar and seven African countries - the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania. Its unsubsidised cost will be under $15, the equivalent of just under £9.60, with prices varying slightly depending on the local market.
The phone was announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Large parts of the developing world have seen massive growth in mobile phone usage in recent years, with a UN report last year showing that purchases of mobiles up 550% in five years in Africa. In many countries that lack the infrastructure for widespread, reliable or cheap landline or broadband networks, mobiles have become a key communication and business tool, allowing users to trade, make bill payments and transfer money.
The Vodafone 150 offers a stripped-down, back-to-basics feature set - with a monochrome screen, voice and SMS capability, and support for mobile payment services. For those looking for a little more, there is also the Vodafone 250 - which will sell for less than $20 (around £12.80) - which has a colour screen and a built-in FM radio.
Vodafone say they will also be investing in infrastructure to help bring mobile connectivity to rural areas that currently lack it.
Vodafone have not said if they have any plans to bring the 150 to the UK at any point.
Source: http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/813323-vodafone-launches-worlds-cheapest-phone
10:27 AM | 0
comments | Read More
Posts
