14 DAY TRIAL // Olive Telecom, one of the major Indian handset manufacturers has just announced the availability of an entry-level Android smartphone, Olive Fluid V-W1.
For those who haven't already picked up the Optimus One, the new Fluid V-W1 from Olive Telecom can be an option, as the phone costs Rs. 10,490 (about $235).
However, things might not be so bright as it seems at first glance, as the handset has even lower specs than a standard entry-level smartphone.
For instance, the device is powered by an STE6715 468MHz processor and runs Android 2.1 Eclair, both of which can be considered obsolete by today's standards.
Even the cheapest Android smartphones nowadays have at least a 600 MHz CPU embedded and feature a newer platform.
Though it is surprising to see that the phone's 3.5-inch touchscreen is capacitive and supports 320 x 480 pixels resolutions, the handset's high price may prove a major drawback.
Other highlights of the phone include HSDPA 7.2 Mbps support, 256 MB of internal memory, microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB), 3-megpapixel camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The phone is powered by a standard 1300 mAh Li-Ion battery that should provide up to 4 hours of talk time or up to 192 hours of standby time.
Although Olive Telecom's openly unveiled focus states that it should provide consumers with high-quality devices that not only offer affordability, but also the latest technology available on the market, the recent devices announced are not in total agreement.
As a side note, Olive Telecom has entered into a joint venture with the Haier Group a few years ago to form Haier Telecom India, which has become the second preferred brand in India.
Unfortunately, while Haier is now one of the country's renowned names in mobile technology, Olive Telecom is still struggling to reach its goals.