In her Article “Can a $25 Handset Start a Smartphone Flood in the Developing World?” Lily Hay Newman discusses the democratization of technology. At the Mobile World Congress, Mozilla announced that it would be releasing a $25 handset targeted at consumers in developing countries. It seems that other companies will soon be following their lead.
Being from a developing country myself, this really interests me. Contrary to what many would think, people in my home country love technology and want more. Those who are well off are willing to pay staggering prices for iPhones and other smartphones. I have seen some of my friends and acquaintances hand over a month of wages to purchase a phone. Even people with less means will go to great lengths to get a phone. It might be bragging rights, but I do think there is also the desire to be in the here and now, and keep up with the times. The only barrier for many people has so far been the cost. I can imagine a low-end smartphone being very popular in my country, and others in the developing world.
Article from:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/02/24/mozilla_announces_25_low_cost_smartphone_handset_targeted_at_the_developing.html
Being from a developing country myself, this really interests me. Contrary to what many would think, people in my home country love technology and want more. Those who are well off are willing to pay staggering prices for iPhones and other smartphones. I have seen some of my friends and acquaintances hand over a month of wages to purchase a phone. Even people with less means will go to great lengths to get a phone. It might be bragging rights, but I do think there is also the desire to be in the here and now, and keep up with the times. The only barrier for many people has so far been the cost. I can imagine a low-end smartphone being very popular in my country, and others in the developing world.
Article from:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/02/24/mozilla_announces_25_low_cost_smartphone_handset_targeted_at_the_developing.html