Vodafone Launches Ultra Low Cost Handsets

Mobile phone carrier Vodafone has unveiled recently two of the most affordable handsets on the market, the Vodafone 150 and Vodafone 250, both of which are set to arrive on the market unsubsidized at under $20 USD. These are the lowest cost devices released by the carrier, and both of them are aimed at the millions of people in emerging markets, so that they can also enjoy the benefits of mobile technology.

According to the wireless operator, the two mobile phones are set to make an appearance on the market in India and 6 markets in Africa – The Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Qatar, South Africa and Tanzania. In addition, Vodafone says that “the launches will be supported by an extensive logistics infrastructure, reaching deep rural segments where mobile penetration typically remains low. In India, it is expected that device availability will reach 60% of the population.”

The new Vodafone 150 and Vodafone 250 come with great voice and SMS services, and they will also include support for mobile payment services. Both handsets come with about the same specifications, the main difference between them being that the Vodafone 250 sports a larger, color screen, and that it also packs FM radio capabilities inside.

Patrick Chomet, Vodafone's Group director of Terminals, said, “The cost of mobile handsets can be one of the most significant barriers for people in accessing and benefiting from the growing number of socially valuable mobile services. The lives of people who use these phones - the Vodafone 150 and Vodafone 250 – will be changed and improved as they become part of the mobile society. I am proud of the work we have done and will continue to do in this critical area of customer empowerment.”

Vodafone also notes that the manufacturing costs and the retail price have been greatly lowered due to a custom-built feature set and packaging design, and courtesy of leveraging the vendor and partner relationships along the supply chain. As for the price tags, the new Vodafone 150 is expected to retail for under $15 USD unsubsidized, while Vodafone 250 will sport a price tag below $20 USD, depending on the local market.