Smartphones have become a way of life. However, not everyone can afford them. With the price of iPhones and other Android-based smartphones shooting through the roof, people in developing countries are still stuck with feature phones.
This is something Mozilla would like to change.
The company unveiled their prototype for a super low-cost, entry level smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The phone, which was designed in conjunction with Chinese chip-maker, Spreadtrum, will retail for only $25. Yes, that‘s right – roughly R275 for a smartphone.
The prototype currently runs Mozilla‘s Firefox OS, and while it is obviously not as powerful or “˜clever‘ as high-end smartphones, it is able to run certain apps and browse the internet.
Mozilla‘s low cost smartphone runs a A5-based Cortex chipset which supports WCDMA and EDGE. Unfortunately, it does not support LTE – so naturally, browsing will be substantially slower than high-end smartphones.
However, while the internet might be a bit slow, the platform does include Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities and also features a camera and FM radio.
Some people might wonder what the point is in making a low-cost smartphone that doesn‘t have the best screen, web browsing or other capabilities – and the answer is actually quite simple.
Mozilla‘s smartphone is aimed at people who live in developing countries. In these developing markets, feature phones account for most of the mobile market.
The aim with Mozilla‘s low-cost smartphone, is to give people in countries like India, Indonesia and Africa the opportunity to own a smartphone and slowly help these emerging markets step into the realm of “˜smart‘ technology.
These developing markets are primed for major growth, especially in the tech sector. Introducing an entry-level smartphone to these markets is a very smart idea.
It hits the nail right on the head in terms of tech demand within these markets, and Mozilla obviously knows this.
They are not out to compete with Apple or Samsung, they are targeting an entirely different market – a market that is in desperate need of something exactly like this.
While Mozilla‘s $25 smartphone won‘t get wealthier people really excited, it will definitely grab the attention of people in developing countries, stuck with a feature phone.
Personally, I love this idea – good on you, Mozilla, for thinking of the everyman.
What are your thoughts? A good idea or a waste of time?
Source: CNET
