The world's cheapest mobile at $15!

Vodafone 150 is being touted as the world's cheapest mobile handset. Vodafone unveiled the phone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona recently.

It will be sold for $15 (Rs 690) in India, making the handset affordable for millions of people.

The V150 has most of the basic features like voice, SMS and support for mobile payment services.

In India, the device is expected to reach 60 per cent of the population.

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The handsets will be launched soon in India and Africa.

"The cost of mobile handsets can be one of the most significant barriers for people in accessing and benefiting from the growing number of socially valuable mobile services," Patrick Chomet, Vodafone's group director of terminals, said.

Specifications:

Black candy bar device with 5-way navigation key; 1.0" monochrome graphic display 96x64 pixels; voice and SMS; GSM 900/1800; polyphonic ringtones; vibration; alarm clock; calculator; currency converter; 2 embedded games; memory for up to100 entries in phonebook plus SMS storage; torch; battery: 500mAh (standby up to 400h, talk time up to 5h); mini USB connector.

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The next in the series is Vodafone 250, with more features like a colour screen and FM radio. The V250 will be sold for about $20 (Rs 920). 

Vodafone 250's screen is slightly larger than the V150 model.

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Vodafone said these phones are intended to give millions of people in emerging markets the opportunity to share the benefits of mobile technology for the first time.

Specifications:

Black or grey-blue candy bar device with 5-way navigation key; 1.45" CSTN display, 128x128 pixels; FM radio and stereo headset support; wallpapers; voice and SMS; GSM 900/1800; polyphonic ringtones; vibration; alarm clock; calculator; currency converter; 2 embedded games; memory for up to100 entries in phonebook and SMS storage; torch; battery: 500mAh (standby up to 400h, talk time up to 5h); mini USB connector.

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