Expressing concern over the launch of ‘Freedom 251’ smartphone priced at Rs 251 by Ringing Bells company today, mobile industry body ICA says the rate could not be below Rs 3,500 even after a subsidised sale.
Expressing concern over the launch of ‘Freedom 251’ smartphone priced at Rs 251 by Ringing Bells company today, mobile industry body ICA has written to Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to get into the depth of the issue, saying the rate of the handset could not be below Rs 3,500 even after a subsidised sale.
Noida-based Ringing Bells launched India’s cheapest smartphone, ‘Freedom 251’ priced at Rs 251, a move that is set to disrupt the booming Indian mobile phone market.
The Indian Cellular Association (ICA) also said that it is not appropriate for the senior political and government leadership to be present at the launch of ‘Freedom 251’ till the air around this product is cleared and it is not shrouded under controversy.
The 3G handset by Ringing Bells, ‘Freedom 251’, features a 4-inch display, Qualcomm 1.3-GHz quad-core processor and 1 GB RAM, according to details shared by the company.
“For your kind information, the bill of material (BOM) value for a product like this when sourced from the cheapest supply chain cost approximately $40 (Rs 2,700).
“And this, when translated into retail price after addition of applicable duties, taxes and with distribution and retail margins would be at least Rs 4,100 while the product is being sold at Rs 251,” ICA National President Pankaj Mohindroo said.
He further added that even if the product is sold at lower margins in an e-commerce type subsidised sale, the final consumer price cannot come below $52-55 (about Rs 3,500-3,800).
“Further, there is no visible mobile operator subsidy involved in this, which in any case is not the way the Indian mobile market operates,” he added. Mohindroo said it would be advisable that officers from Deity get into the depth of this and ICA will provide any technical assistance, if required.
“We are bringing this to your kind notice, so that a scenario does not arise in the future, where the nation, the government of India, industry and trade are seen in a poor light,” a statement said.
Source: financialexpress.com
Top Brands
