14 DAY TRIAL // As expected, a new interesting phone will go on sale by Christmas. The INQ1 targets clients who don't believe in spending too much money on an iPhone or a G1, but are still very keen on getting a device that excels in browsing the web or in social networking.
Being the first mobile from INQ, the mobile device venture created by the owner of 3 a few months ago, the INQ1 offers a great deal to all its potential clients: a 18-month contract of only 15 pounds, which would represent a nice option for customers unwilling or unable to pay large sums of money at once.
Also, when accepting this deal, clients will get unlimited Facebook and Skype calls, permanent access to Windows Live Messenger, unlimited texts or emails, as well as unlimited calls to three users and 75 minutes per month of calls to other networks. However, should they decide to purchase it using the Pay-as-you-Go option, they will have to pay 79.99 pounds and additional expenses for Internet usage.
If we were to compare the INQ1 with the iPhone or other devices of its kind, we see that customers would have to pay up to 349.99 pounds for the iPhone, while and the price for the G1 is of about 40 pounds on a monthly contract. Clearly, the differences in terms of pricing are notable.
"The 85% to 95% of the market that did not buy the iPhone and cannot afford an expensive smartphone has been frankly forgotten." said Frank Meehan, chief executer at INQ. "The problem is we could not find anything under $500 that gave customers good access to the Internet so we said 'stuff it we'll do it ourselves'."
Though the developers of this device considered integrating the Android system, it was not possible to do so for technical reasons, as it would have meant changing the whole structure of the phone in order to fit Android's requirements.
UK clients can get the INQ1 starting today, while, some time next month, it will become available in Australia and Hong-Kong as well.