Mozilla developing a $25 phone

[colonel_mortis]

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26316265

 

Mozilla has shown off a prototype for a $25 (£15) smartphone that is aimed at the developing world.

The company, which is famed mostly for its Firefox browser, has partnered with Chinese low-cost chip maker Spreadtrum.

While not as powerful as more expensive models, the device will run apps and make use of mobile internet.

It would appeal to the sorts of people who currently buy cheap "feature" phones, analysts said.

Feature phones are highly popular in the developing world as a halfway point between "dumb" phones - just voice calls and other basic functions - and fully-fledged smartphones.

Obviously at this price it's not a proper smartphone, but it's not a dumb phone either - it uses the mobile web (presumably 3G) so it's better than my old phone, and it's dirt cheap. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.

[Covalent]

$25? Lol what's it made of..?

A banana. A banana with a tiny cell receiver and microphone inside.

[Misanthrope]

I think it's $25 to manufacture and would sell for something like $100. And at that price point there's many (MANY) Android devices.

[Probenja]

http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_105-5324.php

http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/nokia-105/4505-6454_7-35619089.html

 

That is a $20 phone

[Unknown_Guy]

And running Firefox OS. Was in a conference where they were promoting it - nothing impressive about it except the device API https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Apps/Reference#Firefox_OS_device_APIs. That could lead to some cool stuff if it had wide support.

[TopWargamer]

Wow, and I thought that $50 phone being made by Motorola (I believe it was) was cheap. 

[MatheusSanzo]

Too expensive.

[EChondo]

A banana. A banana with a tiny cell receiver and microphone inside.

Banana Phone?!

 

[brownninja97]

I wonder if it would be more powerful then the nokia N95 that i used to use.

[JupiteL]

If they can put this on the market for $40, this can help poor people to get a better technology.

[ManOfDisguise]

A banana. A banana with a tiny cell receiver and microphone inside.

NO ITS A POTATO! 

[mgsstar]

$25 is a pretty tight budget to build around imo. I guess they won't be making much profit out of this. Hope they will be able to fit a wifi module in that budget.

[Neskia]

It's marketed for third world countries.

[JAKEBAB]

really need something like this my iphone 5 screen is cracked so it presses things when i dont even touch the phone and i dont get to upgrade until november i just need something that calls and texts and has a strong power connector that i can get anywhere.

[totjup5]

Not sure how they can do this and  make any money on it.... They have to be subsidizing a loss on the hardware somehow.