Looks like everyone is gearing up to make the cheapest mobile phone on the planet. If Nokia announced that it was planning a $10 (Rs. 500) handset a few weeks ago, it is now the turn of mobile operator Vodafone to announce not one, but TWO devices that would cost you as much as two large sized Pizzas.
Say hello to the Vodafone 150 and the 250, the former being described by Vodafone as the world's cheapest handset. The phone unveiled at the on going MWC will be sold for $15 (Rs. 700) and is aimed at developing markets. It is expected to see an Indian launch in the not too distant future.
The Vodafone 150 and Vodafone 250 offer expected voice and SMS services and packs in quite a few features you wouldn't expect in such low priced phones. For example, the 150 supports mobile payment services, has a miniUSB connector, alarm clock, a torch, calculator a currency converter; 2 embedded games; and memory for up to100 entries in phonebook plus SMS storage. The battery is rated at 500mAh and offers standby time up to 400hrs and talk time up to 5hrs.
The 250 boasts of a 5-way navigation key, a 1.45-inch CSTN display, 128x128 pixels, FM radio and stereo headset support, wallpapers, polyphonic ringtones, alarm clock, calculator, currency converter and 2 embedded games. This one too has the same battery and yes, there's a miniUSB connector as well.
Vodafone has also confirmed that it will maximize the availability of the handsets by providing an extensive logistics infrastructure across countries with sizeable and isolated rural populations. With this Vodafone expects that the phone will reach 60 percent of the population in India, a prime market for both these phones.
The Vodafone 150 will retail at below $15 (Rs. 700) and the Vodafone 250 will retail unsubsidised at below $20 (Rs. 900), depending on the local market.
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