Vodafone 150 lays claim to 'world's cheapest phone' title, ST-Ericsson works on thrifty 3G
By Richard Lai 
posted February 17th 2010 9:03PM
posted February 17th 2010 9:03PM
On a similar topic, ST-Ericsson has launched the U6715 mobile platform with 7.2Mbps HSPA modem for Linux-based OSes (Android and MeeGo, to name a couple), and expects participating manufacturers to deliver sub-€100 (about $137) smartphones in the first half of 2010. Apparently, the trick is to use "structurally-less expensive silicon, without compromising the end user experience." With a 1000mAh battery, the platform will deliver up to 40 hours to musical entertainment -- twice that of the Nexus One with 1400mAh -- and up to seven hours of 3G talk time on one charge. Pretty sweet at first blush, except there's no mention of what the CPU would be clocked at. Regardless, all we want is some smooth video playback from the "elegant and powerful multimedia engine" -- is that too much to ask?
looks to be quite the upgrade from my MOTOFONE!
But will it run windows 7 phone series?
@broli Yes, yes it will. Whatever is your need, there is a Windows 7 Phone Series Version for that!
@zap2 From when Sony ericsson change their logo ?
@rhezaganteng
Since they changed their name to ST-Ericsson
I got a 20 dollar motorolla. It was better then my old $250 sony ericson, it had a music creator in it, teached me the chromatic scale and a bit about timing.
@Arkv2 Think they're actually two diff. companies (joint ventures involving Ericsson):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_ericsson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ST_Ericsson
@mpv
:| Sarcasm
"start (flying) walking to either India, Turkey or Africa "
You do realize India is one of the most rapidly growing emerging economies - one of the future superpowers.
You do know there are planes that get to Africa, India and Turkey.
If you don't ... I feel sorry for you...
@TikiTeko I think that was a reference to today's plane crash in Palo Alto with Tesla execs.
@ellery I don't really see the relevance or connection, but ok, thank you for pointing that out.
In relation to the phone, doesn't Nokia have a good grasp of the affordable market segment? I am sure they will come up with an even cheaper version. Plus their phones come with the Nokia Community Connections where people are taught about business and agriculture.
I truly admire companies that are willing to support technological and economic development in areas in need.
@TikiTeko
Those companies might be doing it because its profitable to their bottom line.
Not saying that is wrong, but its not much more admirable then making high end products.
@zap2 Agree, There is love for this phone and for the HD2 coming soon to your closest T-Mobile :D
@TikiTeko maybe my assumption was a stretch
Alcatel offers phones for like $8 in Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries. Certainly cheaper than these phones.
@ellery I am sure they're slightly subsidized. I think the breakthrough here is that the phone is being sold (SIM Unlocked I assume) directly from the manufacturer, and the manufacturer isn't loosing money in the production.
@TikiTeko I assumed the walking was referring to the fact that if you're buying a $15 you won't be spending $1000 (or whatever the price) on an airplane ticket... but that's just me
@TikiTeko
Don't forget China too, soon to overtake Japan as the world's second largest economy.
@williamlau05 I dunno but I can see Japan and China becoming one in the future - once the war sentiment is completely forgiven or forgotten. They are 2 very different cultures but share more aspects between each other than they do with the Western World. By Pete's sake, all China needs is democracy to hyperdevelop!
Viva a Demo-China ! Viva los Panda Bears ! (Firefox came as an inspiration from the Red Panda - I love Firefox)
Amazing what you can do with technology these days
@Zik
Amazing what you can do without (cutting-edge consumer) technology these days!
I think I had one of these in 1996. I guess I won't fault them for making an inexpensive phone for more impoverished people, though. Everyone could use a cell phone for emergencies and whatnot.
The CPU is a mouse on a wheel.
@Albot I believe they had to sacrifice the kHz to keep the price low and used a gerbil, takes less food, space, etc.
Kids in Africa won't even want to use this.
@jfally They have some cool XO's laptops :D
It had a back led, a FM radio and even works on 3G, its better than the iphone!
gosh i love flash player on mac especially when it crashes in the middle of watching a video but on the other hand the phone itself looks interesting... to a 4 year old but still i wouldn't mind just having one to have one haha
@lars1110 I'm a PC. The flash video played without crashing and Windows 7 was my idea.
@TikiTeko yea yea yea gotta love winblows haha i love my mac flash is really the only thing that sucks and i think its a snow leopard problem couse i didnt have many problems in leopard lol. i do use windows 7 btw i have to cause of work i just prefer macs that all i have nothing against windows except for the fact that it drives me nuts but avast keeps me alive and well
I want a cheap phone, because in theory, that cheapness should result in cheaper prices by carriers who saved money by not having to subsidize. Existing in the market more with regional carriers, but, no not actually interested until better economics result in the marketplace.
You know, I lived overseas for awhile, and I had a twenty dollar phone. I got three or four days of battery life out of the puppy. Those were the days..... (stares off into the distance while his smart phone's low battery meter beeps incessantly)
@I was swhite237 I lost my passwo
My winmo phone lasts about a week.
Finally, the real iphone killer has arrived. All hail the vodafone 150!!!!!
My wife and I bought a super-cheap Nokia with FM, flashlight, etc. when we were in London this summer. We both have iPhones, but AT&T charges, or should I say robs you when using the phone overseas, so I pulled the SIM cards and used it to check email in PRET stores. Yet another reason I hate ATT.
Wouldn't reselling older phones be cheaper than these supposed "cheapest phones"?
With the way technology advances these days, a $200 phone from just a couple of years ago should be down in the $20 range and probably have lots more features built into it. Also reusing an older phone is a hell of a lot better for the environment - they don't end up in landfills and no need to manufacture a new phone if one exists already.
@Hazdaz Geeks don't use "old".
You are not worthy of this New "Retro" style.
Older phones don't work as well.
My phone is two years old, and the screen has started to decide it doesn't want to work consistently. It sometimes sends text messages repeatedly until it receives an incoming message, or randomly saves them to drafts.
This is just a phone that received normal use. In the pocket, out of the pocket, back in the pocket.
so true what the article says, im not buying expensive phones anymore after i was mugged.
The truth is that $15 phone is pretty much all I need.
Make phone calls, and send the odd SMS.
Does this have multi-touch?
Yes - you can touch it as many times as you want...
Why not just by back old phones for $5? or less?
@iPaul
good point. you can find a 4 yr old blackberry on ebay for about 5 skins, with many more features than these failures.
My future children will get THIS when they get their first phone. None of this crap with 5th graders having iPhones!
I need wifi, 3g, Blutooth 3.0 and a multi touch capacitive screen and... :P
If i saw that sitting on a table i'd look around the room to see just where the crappy teevee was that it was the remote for!
where can i get one of these bad boys unlocked?
I love them! These puppies have a feature that the latest-and-greatest phones these days are lacking. A REAL KEYPAD!
around the world drug dealers are rejoicing.
My Motorola w175 disagrees with your cheapest phone claims to the tune of $5. Makes texts, calls, has effing awful startup music and a whole lot of other Tracfone nonsense. All for the wonderful price of $10.
Not everyone can afford fancy post-paid phones :D