An Indian handset maker will tomorrow launch the country's cheapest smartphone, in a move that's likely to disrupt its booming mobile market of over 200 million users.

Called Freedom 251 and priced at under Rs 500 ($7), the handset is being manufactured by domestic handset maker Ringing Bells as part of the government's Made in India campaign, which promotes and encourages local manufacturing.

The introduction of the handset, which is likely 3G-enabled, has received full backing from the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the launch as "empowering India to the last person" and "transforming India's growth story," the Noida-based company said.

"The phone will be popularly priced at under Rs 500 and the launch stands as a true testimony of success of the latest initiatives taken by the Government of India," read media invites sent out by the firm.

indian_flag
Ringing Bells recently launched one of India's cheapest 4G handsets at Rs 2,999 ($43), however the most affordable smartphones in India are currently priced between Rs 1,500 ($22) and Rs 2,000 ($29). Another Indian company called DataWind announced plans last year to launch the world's cheapest smartphone at Rs 999 ($14.6), but that device has yet to hit the market.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently praised India's business environment during a town hall meeting and stated that the company is putting increasingly more energy into the country, which has the third largest smartphone market in the world, behind China and the U.S.

Just last month, Apple sent an application to the country's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) for approval of several planned retail outlets in India, in which less than one third of the population uses smartphones.

In December, Apple cut the prices of its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus handsets in India by up to 16 percent, following a reported dive in sales. The move quickly followed Apple's decision to halve the price of iPhone 5s, from 45,500 Rupees to 24,999 Rupees.

Tag: India

Top Rated Comments

ganesh.raam Avatar
102 months ago
Sadly a country, where more people have access to mobile phones, than toilets.
Development shouldn't be single dimensional but multi-dimensional.
This government is on its track to put things together and increase employment in the country.

For a country that was in deep **** for more than 60+ years of congress Party rule, these guys are doing a much better job. We also need to consider how chaotic it is to deal with a country 1/3 the size of United States of America but 3 times the size of US population. The challenges are many fold but working towards it and achieving success from its failures will what a make a country bright and true global cities...

And for many who are ignorant about how complex India, let me try putting it here...

1. It has 18 official languages with Hindi and English as its official Federal languages
2. Every state in India has its own language (Unlike dialects) and thousands of dialects spoken in every district and county level.
3. To give an understanding of how important these languages are - 7 of 20 largest spoken languages in the world are spoken in India and its their mother tongue...
4. The geography is extremely different from one state to the other.
5. And to top it off, there are many religions and deep rooted castes.
6. Out of its 1.3 Billion people, there are 400 Million people living its cities and urban centers. That's 120% of US population living in cities.

There are many things that I can go about this fascinating country and its complex structure. No country which speaks 2 or more majority speaking languages has survived without skirmishes and its own problems. Now you just need to think how big a head ache it is for the State and Federal Governments to run this country with such diversity and a feeling of togetherness under a single code and still be a democracy... To me its no ordinary feet but something beyond extraordinary... :)

So to drive a business and provide a robust environment for business, trade and economy, the Indian government is doing its every bit and with it comes its fair share of failures and success which the people understand and take it in their stride...

And to say the least, India is a free country which has a successful democracy where every one can voice their opinions for and against the government without loosing their head. On the other hand, China might have had its successes but at the cost of democracy and freedom is never worth it... :)

Just like the Singapore Statesman - Lee Kwan Yew said - 'I was trying to create, in a third world situation, a first world oasis'. Hope the same holds for India as well but with its sheer size and diversity it will take time... Just hang in there...
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
102 months ago
This is actually a positive for Apple. They benefit from more mature markets that are saturated with crap products. A nation of people using these phones will be prime to upgrade to a better experience. Then there's the status of having a real iPhone. Like every other market, Apple will be able to skim the profitable sales of the top and leave the others in a fight for the bottom. People don't buy on price, if they did Apple would have been closed 30 years ago.
There's a lot of presumption behind the thought that the products will be crap; an assumption based on the sale price I assume. The phones are most likely gov't subsidized so there's no real correlation between price and quality. The phones could easily rival the quality of Xiomi's offerings. As for Apple offering a better experience, it's an opinion. One that's not backed up by the numbers. These phones will most likely have no affect on Apple's sales in India. Apple's market is premium handsets. The people choosing premium handsets typically choose between Apple and Samsung. Those choosing Apple aren't that numerous right now (less than 2%). There is a world of difference, and a lot of handset price points, between $7 and $700. Even at upgrade, this isn't a cross shopping opportunity.

People don't buy on price?:confused: Yes they do. They also buy on value, perception, acceptance, peer pressure, and myriad other reasons. Blanket statements tend to paint people in corners. Unnecessarily.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scottsoapbox Avatar
102 months ago
Makes $799 seem a little ridiculous...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Studioman Avatar
102 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/16/india-7-dollar-smartphone/')


An Indian handset maker will tomorrow launch the country's cheapest smartphone, in a move that's likely to disrupt its booming mobile market of over 200 million users.

Called Freedom 251 and priced at under Rs 500 ($7), the handset is being manufactured by domestic handset maker Ringing Bells as part of the government's Made in India campaign, which promotes and encourages local manufacturing.

The introduction of the handset, which is likely 3G-enabled, has received full backing from the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the launch as "empowering India to the last person" and "transforming India's growth story," the Noida-based company said.

"The phone will be popularly priced at under Rs 500 and the launch stands as a true testimony of success of the latest initiatives taken by the Government of India," read media invites sent out by the firm.



Ringing Bells recently launched one of India's cheapest 4G handsets at Rs 2,999 ($43), however the most affordable smartphones in India are currently priced between Rs 1,500 ($22) and Rs 2,000 ($29). Another Indian company called DataWind announced plans last year to launch the world's cheapest smartphone at Rs 999 ($14.6), but that device has yet to hit the market.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently praised ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/04/cook-town-hall/') India's business environment during a town hall meeting and stated that the company is putting increasingly more energy into the country, which has the third largest smartphone market in the world, behind China and the U.S.

Just last month, Apple sent an application ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/20/apple-india-retail-stores/') to the country's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) for approval of several planned retail outlets in India, in which less than one third of the population uses smartphones.

In December, Apple cut the prices ('https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/21/apple-reduces-price-of-iphone-6s-india/') of its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus handsets in India by up to 16 percent, following a reported dive in sales. The move quickly followed Apple's decision to halve the price ('https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/14/iphone-5s-by-almost-half-in-india/') of iPhone 5s, from 45,500 Rupees to 24,999 Rupees.

Article Link: India's $7 Smartphone Set to Disrupt World's Third Largest Mobile Market ('https://www.macrumors.com/2016/02/16/india-7-dollar-smartphone/')
This is actually a positive for Apple. They benefit from more mature markets that are saturated with crap products. A nation of people using these phones will be prime to upgrade to a better experience. Then there's the status of having a real iPhone. Like every other market, Apple will be able to skim the profitable sales of the top and leave the others in a fight for the bottom. People don't buy on price, if they did Apple would have been closed 30 years ago.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Taz Mangus Avatar
102 months ago
Makes $799 seem a little ridiculous...
It also makes an Android priced at $349 phone seem a little ridiculous.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cableguy84 Avatar
102 months ago
You get what you pay for
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.1.2 With Security Fixes

Thursday November 30, 2023 10:12 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2, small updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems that Apple introduced in September. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 come a few weeks after the release of iOS 17.1.1, another bug fix update. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update....
iOS 17

28 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in December's iOS 17.2 Update

Friday December 1, 2023 2:57 am PST by
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we've seen three more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 28 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released this December. 1. Help...
apple card 1

Apple Ending Apple Card Partnership With Goldman Sachs

Tuesday November 28, 2023 3:09 pm PST by
Apple is ending its credit card partnership with Goldman Sachs, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple plans to stop working with Goldman Sachs in the next 12 to 15 months, and it is not yet clear if Apple has established a new partnership for the Apple Card. Apple and Goldman Sachs will dissolve their entire consumer partnership, including the Apple Card and the Apple Savings account....
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.2 Beta 4

Tuesday November 28, 2023 12:18 pm PST by
Apple is wrapping up development on iOS 17.2, with the update expected to come out in December. While we're getting to the end of the beta testing period, Apple is still tweaking features and adding new functionality. We've rounded up everything new in the fourth beta of iOS 17.2. Default Notification Sound Under Sounds & Haptics, there's a new "Default Alerts" section that allows you to ...
iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1

iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

Thursday November 30, 2023 4:08 pm PST by
The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range. Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside hapt...
anker new xmas

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
paramount plus logo

Apple and Paramount Considering Discounted TV+ Streaming Bundle

Friday December 1, 2023 4:40 am PST by
Apple and Paramount have discussed bundling their TV streaming services at a discount, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The companies have talked about offering a combination of Paramount+ and Apple TV+ that would cost less than subscribing to both services separately, according to people familiar with the discussions. The discussions are in their early stages, and it is ...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...