Vodafone unveils sub-Rs1,000 handsets for developing countries

After Nokia announced a few weeks ago that it was planning a $10 (Rs500) handset, Vodafone has announced that it would launch not one, but two devices that would cost only about as much as two large sized pizzas.

Vodafone today unveiled its 150 and 250 models with the former being the world's cheapest handset to retail for $15 (Rs700) and the 250 to carry a price tag less than $20 (Rs1,000). The phones were unveiled at the on going Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, and are targeted at the developing markets. The phones are expected to be launched in India in the not too distant future.

The models offer voice and SMS services and offer quite a few features one would hardly expect in such low priced devices.

For starters, the 150 features support for mobile payment services, has a miniUSB connector, alarm, clock, a torch, a calculator, a currency convertor, and two embedded games, Additionally, it has memory for up to 100 entries in phonebook plus SMS storage. The battery has been rated at 500mAh and offers standby time up to 400 hours and talk time up to five hours.

The phones will be initially launched India, Turkey and eight African countries including Lesotho, Kenya and Ghana.

According to the UN mobile ownership is expected to reach 5 billion in 2010, with the bulk of growth to come from the developing world.