Motorola to provide supercheap phones

October 3 -

By Timothy Sexton

HappyNews Citizen Journalist

Motorola announced that it has contracted to provide ultra-inexpensive cell phones to potential users in underdeveloped countries, a market which is coveted by all cell phone manufacturers. Motorola reportedly will begin providing handsets to such developing-market nations as India, Yemen and Bangladesh in Asia, and Nigeria and Kenya in Africa.

The supercheap phones will retail for roughly $30 apiece, significantly undercutting Nokia's recently announced similar phones which will sell for as much as $120. That price is considered by many to be far too pricey for most residents of these developing nations. The Emerging Market Handset program, provided by the GSM Association, awarded the contract to Motorola. Motorola won a similar contract in February. That contract was to provide $40 phones to emerging markets. Many other handset makers competed with Motorola for the opportunity to get in on the ground floor in developing countries.

As a result of Motorola's contract, a significant growth in the number of cell phone users in these areas is expected. Despite this contract, Nokia is still at the top in the mobile handset market while Motorola is the number two handset maker. Whether this new contract succeeds in putting Motorola back on top remains to be seen. Regardless, Nokia announced it has delayed its music-playing handset. Motorola, in contrast, already has the ROKR model incorporating Apple iTunes service.

This story was produced by HappyNews Citizen Journalist Timothy Sexton. Sexton is a freelance writer from Florida.

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