“It's
all about Digicel making the 4G experience affordable and accessible to all
with the launch of this new and affordable Android smartphone. To ensure that
as many people have access to the Digicel 4G experience using the DL600, the
handset will be available to both prepaid and postpaid customers in all 31
markets”
Comments by Group
Commercial Director, Brian Finn in an interview with Steven Jackson, Business
Reporter, published Friday April 5, 2013 by The
Jamaica Gleaner
By
now everyone in Jamaica must be aware of this exciting development from Telecom
Provider Digicel.
Telecom Provider Digicel
is launching its own smartphone in the middle of May 2013, dubbed the DL600.
Even more interesting is the price; sub-US$100 (roughly below JA$10,000) as
reported on the Geezam Blog in an article by Kelroy
entitled “Digicel
to launch Affordable Android-powered 4G Smartphone in May” on Wednesday
April 3rd 2013.
Which
means that not only were we (Geezam
Blog)
late by eight (8) days, but so was The
Jamaica Gleaner, as they reported this development some
two (2) days later on Friday April 5th 2013 in the article “Digicel
launches its own smartphone”, published Friday April 5, 2013 by Steven
Jackson, Business Reporter, The
Jamaica Gleaner.
The
specs are impressive, albeit rather basic. This based on the details provided
in the Digicel Press Release
on March 27th 2013, which are rather
sparse:
1. 3.5"
display
2. Android
OS 4.1 aka Jellybean 4.1
3. 1Ghz
processor
4. HSDPA+
Release 5 (not 7!) speeds of 7.2 Mbps
Many,
especially those of you who’re ditching Blackberry in search of a good
smartphone as predicted in my Geezam
Blog
article entitled “Apple
iPhone boosts Jamaican smartphone usage as BB goes Chapter 11 Bankruptcy”
and my blog
article entitled “Blackberry
popularity wanes as Jamaicans go smartphones - Android and Apple's Smartphone
Revolution” will be
thrilled.
For
the first time, a smartphone will be available in Jamaica running the latest
Android OS and price under US$100 (roughly JA$10,000), cheaper than even the
cheapest Blackberry. Now’s a good time as any to learn how to transfer your
stuff from a BB to a smartphone as given per my handy guide in my Geezam Blog
article entitled “How
to transfer Phone Contacts and Data from your Blackberry to your Apple iPhone
or Google Android smartphone or Tablet”.
But
the excitement aside, this seems a tad odd.
Granted
it’s not the first time Telecom Provider Digicel’s
doing a branded phone. Telecom Provider Digicel
did the Coral Series of feature phones made by manufacturer ZTE Corp of China
here in Jamaica, with the Coral 200 Solar Mobile Handset launched in 2009 in
Papau New Guinea and Vanatu where they also have a presence as noted in my blog
article entitled “Alternative
Energy and the Solar Generator - Pitch Black”.
And
clearly, Telecom Provider Digicel’s
trying to boost Data usage as suspected by the writer in the in the article “Digicel
launches its own smartphone”, published Friday April 5, 2013 by Steven
Jackson, Business Reporter, The
Jamaica Gleaner, as very few people have that kind of
money to shell out on a smartphone, which in Jamaica can cost as much as
JA$25,000. Making a budget, branded smartphone would help boost “4G” data usage
in Jamaica.
What’s
interesting here is, based on a tip-off from a Fan of the Geezam Blog,
Telecom Provider Digicel
appears to be rebranding the Alcatel One Touch S'Pop! This low-budget smartphone was
recently launched at MWC (Mobile World Conference) by Alcatel as one of the
low-Budget smartphones for Developing World Countries that will be running
Firefox OS as I’d reported in my Geezam
Blog
article entitled “Firefox
OS and Telecoms Providers debuts low-budget Alcatel One Touch”.
I
suspect this, as my hugely popular Geezam
Blog
article entitled “How
to Access LIME or Digicel’s 3G Internet using an unlocked Huawei E1556 Modem
Dongle or Nokia Modem Dongle” has been making
Jamaicans aware of the fact that unlike a Digicel WiMax modem (which I own so I
know this as fact!), you DON’T have to buy Telecom Provider Digicel’s
smartphones.
Just
take your old CLARO Modem or any smartphone your relatives from farin’ send
down to you from abroad and hack it as per my other Geezam Blog
article entitled “How
to get 2G or 3G Internet on your Mobile Phone in Jamaica”.
Then from there onwards you can use their services without having to spend the
equivalent of Laptop money to give yourself or your children going to school
Mobile Internet Access (Laptops are still
mobile you know!).
So
it would appear Telecom Provider Digicel’s
has decided to go low to boost its sales of smartphones with sub US$100 prices.
This by launching what really may be an Alcatel One Touch S'Pop running Firefox OS marketed
as a Google Android smartphone like The Incredible Burt
Wonderstone (2013).
In
short, Jamaica may be the first country in the Caribbean to get to guinea-pig
test Firefox OS along with regular Android OS 4.1 aka Jellybean 4.1 as
advertised in Digicel Press Release
on March 27th 2013.
Stay
tuned to my blog and the Geezam
Blog
as we follow this interesting sleight of hand development.
2 comments:
Readers, check my follow up article:
http://mythoughtsontechnologyandjamaica.blogspot.com/2013/05/digicel-to-launch-dl600-smarphone-in.html
Old Claro Digicel modems are not worth unlocking they are worthless. Descent post, I had no idea Digicel was interested in firefox OS.
Check out my work over at addictootech website.
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