Freedom 251 Launch It costs Rs 251: 10 things we know about world’s cheapest smart phone

An Indian company is about to launch what is most certainly the world’s cheapest smartphone. The Freedom 251 from Noida-based Ringing Bells, costs, yes, Rs. 251, and will be available to buy on the company’s website from 6am on February 18 and close at 8pm on February 21.

Is there a catch? We don’t know yet. But here is what we know:

Read more: India’s cheapest smartphone from Ringing Bells to cost less than Rs 500

1. The phone runs the recent Android Lollipop 5.1 OS which will run most of the apps and looks much better than Kitkat with the help of a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor.

2. It supports 3G for lightning-fast web browsing.

3. It will have a 4-inch screen that is quite common for sub-Rs 5,000 phones.

4. It even has a 1GB RAM that can easily run WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter with some more space to spare for more apps.

5. The phone has 8GB internal memory which can be expanded to 32GB with a micro SD card. Sadly, microSD card will cost you more than the phone.

6. You even get a camera. On both sides. 3.2 megapixel on the back and 0.3 megapixel the front.

7. The phone has the 1,450 mAh battery which won’t last you all day but no one can complain considering the price.

8. The Freedom 251 will be officially unveiled in New Delhi and the event will be attended by Murli Manohar Joshi, MP, with the Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar as the chief guest on Wednesday, according to a report.

9. The phone will have some apps pre-installed to make it more useful to the women, farmers, fishermen and everyone in general. Women Safety, Swachh Bharat, Fisherman, Farmer, Medical, Google Play, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube are some of the apps to be installed out of the box.

10. By the way you also get a 1-year warranty on the phone backed by their 650 service centers across the country.

How is the Freedom 251 so cheap? We don’t know yet, but our best guess is that it is somehow subsidised by the government — it already has a few government apps pre-loaded.

We’re going to be up early on February 18 ordering our device -- or half a dozen of them.

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Little-known Noida-based company Ringing Bells Pvt. Ltd. will launch what it is calling India's most affordable smartphone on Wednesday evening. Here's what we already know about the Freedom 251 smartphone.

1. Ringing Bells had announced earlier that the Freedom 251 will be priced at "less than Rs. 500". But we can now confirm that the smartphone will be priced at Rs. 251 (less than $4). At that price, it's easily the most affordable smartphone in the world.
2. The website also lists important specifications of the Freedom 251: 4-inch display, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage (expandable up to 32GB), 3.2-megapixel back camera, 0.3-megapixel front camera, and a 1450mAh battery.
3. The Freedom 251 will be officially unveiled in New Delhi on Wednesday evening at an event that will be presided over by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, MP, with the Union Defence Minister Sri Manohar Parrikar as the Chief Guest.
4. Ringing Bells says the Freedom 251 smartphone has been developed 'with immense support' from the government and is touting it as a success story of PM Modi's flagship 'Make in India' scheme.
5. A smartphone priced at Rs. 251 will go a long way in connecting every Indian, and like the previous government tried to take computing to the masses with the Aakash tablet, the Freedom 251 has the potential to realise the 'Digital India' vision.

Bookings for the Freedom 251 open on February 18 at 6am and close on 21 February at 8pm. The company says deliveries will be completed by 30th June 2016.