Digicel to launch the DL600 Smartphone by Mid-May 2013 starting below US$100 - Alcatel One Touch running Firefox OS marketed like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

“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 3^rd 2013.

For further confirmation, here’s the original Digicel Press Release on March 27^th 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 5^th 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 27^th 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 27^th 2013.

Stay tuned to my blog and the Geezam Blog as we follow this interesting sleight of hand development.