The Noida-based startup Ringing Bells Pvt Ltd. had got a lot of fame with the launch of the world’s cheapest smartphone, the Freedom 251, which was priced at Rs. 251. How many could buy it? None for now, but the company’s Founder and CEO Mohit Goel says that the first batch of 2 lakh units of the phone are ready to be shipped and the delivery for them will begin from June 30th.
Earlier this year, mid-February to be precise, the company had planned to deliver 25 lakh Freedom 251 units by June 30th. Now, the count is less than 10% of the actual number but it will make a mark even if these two lakh units are shipped. We are still taking this with a pinch of salt and it will stay until we see people actually receiving the units they are waiting for.
According to the CEO Goel, they will be facing a loss of about Rs. 140-150 per unit but they hope to make a profit on volumes. “We will have a loss, but I am happy that the dream of connecting rural and poor Indians as part of the ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives has been fulfilled with ‘Freedom 251’,” Goel said. In reality, the Freedom 251 is the rebranded Adcom smartphone and it costs no less than Rs. 2000, according to the experts.
The company is also planning to launch a 32-inch high-definition LED television – also called “Freedom” – in the first week of July. These freedom TVs are going to be the cheapest television sets with a price of less than Rs. 10000, with online sales and delivery of two days.
The presence of a politician at the launch event gave the impression of the smartphone launch being a true one but then, the dates for manufacturing and delivery have been shifting. We will only get to know about the authenticity when the first set of smartphones are delivered.
