Freedom 251: World's cheapest made in India smart phone launched

Taking the world by surprise with the world's cheapest Smartphone, a little known Noida based start-up  on Wednesday launched a Rs.251 (less than $4), "Made in India" smartphone, if works well - will be a game changer.

In what could be termed as fillip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" and "Digital India" initiative. "Freedom 251" form Ringing Bells Pvt Ltd will be available for pre-order on companies website from 6 a.m on February 18 till 8 p.m on February 21.

The smartphone was unveiled here at Nehru Park by veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

"It is a great news for people like fisherman, farmers and women from rural areas who can use this technology to empower their lives. I hpoe the smartphone will soon have some for the differently-abled too," Joshi said that event.

Although there are still some apprehensions about its final appearance and its performance, if the IndiansAmasses accepts the smartphone, then it will be a winner in the country that is on of the fastest growing smartphone markets globally.

According to thee company,"Freedom 251" smartphone has been developed  with immense support from the government.

"Freedom 251" heralds new era in the mobile handset and telecom industry from the end customer perspective in India. Farmers would have access to real time weather forecast and soil conditions which will help them increase their productivity and income," Ringing Bells president  Ashok Chadha said in a statement.

"Freedom 251 has a Android operating system, a 4 inch qHD IPS display, a 3.2 megapixel  primary and 0.3 megapixel rear camera."

The device has 3G connectivity and also has a 1.3GHz quad core processor, 1GB Ram and 8GB internal memory and supports external memory card of upto 32GB.

To power "Freedom 251", the company has put a 1,450 mAh battery and claims to have a service network of 650 centres across India.

The smart phone comes with pre installed apps like Swatch Bharat, Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, among others.

The deliveries of the phone will be made by 30th of June, the company said in a statement.

According to the phone's official website, the company claims to "empower citizens, even in the remotest rural and semi urban centres of India, with the latest in Digital technology at incredible affordable prices.