Sunday, February 21, 2016

World’s cheapest smartphone named Freedom 251 in India



The Ringing bell freedom 251 is a smart phone with a quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, Android lollipop 5.1 and 8GB internal storage. It  is available for Rs. 251.


Freedom 251 bookings will be open on 18th of February at 6 am and close on 21st of February at 8 pm. Deliveries will be completed by 30th of June 2016.

www.freedom251.com
www.ringingbells.co.in

The smartphone Freedom 251 comes with a 1-year warranty, 6 months for Battery and Charger and also 3 months for Earphone commencing from the date of purchase.

Official Details of Ringing bells Company:

Official Website- www.ringingbells.co.in

Registered Office address- B-44, Sector 63, Noida – 201301

Contact numbers- 08822232323, 01204313087

Official E-mail- info@ringingbells.co.in


Both Economic Times and Times of India carried news items on this smart phone. They expressed doubt on how the company can supply at this low price. The other manufacturers request Ministry of Electronics to investigate and find out if there is any foul play in the offer.


Strategy to Sell Freedom Smart Phone at Rs. 251


How will the company manage to sell it at that price?

Ringing Bell claims it will be able to achieve this feat through four strategies.

Rs 2,500, is present cost of the device.

One, the benefit excise duty cuts by assembling handsets domestically would be Rs 400 or 16 per cent of Rs 2,500.

However, they are expecting from the government, which is at 13.8 per cent or Rs 55 lower than Rs 400.


Two, as it starts manufacturing in huge quantities (at least 500,000 units a month), it would be able to cut costs by a further Rs 500 a unit.

Three, online sales will help it cut costs by another Rs 500.

Four, it will have a specialised online platform, and earn additional revenue which is going fund the sasles of Freedom 251.

(http://www.rediff.com/business/report/alarm-bells-over-rs-251-smartphone-offer/20160219.htm)



21 Feb 2016

7.35 Crore Freedom 251 Phone Booked.
30,000 persons paid the full amount.
The company owner claimed that he will get the phone made at Rs. 220.  Shipping charges are collected separately. So there is margin for him. The present market price of the phone is Rs. 1719. But they decided the pricing because they wanted India to become Digital India Country
http://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/freedom-251-booking-closed-company-to-deliver-735-cr-phones-in-2016/ar-BBpJCzX?ocid=SK2MDHP



2017

The product got into problems and the whole sales campaign became a fiasco. Its present status is to be ascertained.


Updated 21 Feb 2016,  20 Feb 2016,  17 Feb 2016