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October 15, 2003
No Frills Mobile
In this mobile age characterized by the flavor-of-the-day feature, where the camcorder phone trumps the camera phone, it's refreshing to find a company whose business plan is based on the motto "Less is more."
The Cyclone phone, by New Horizons Technologies International (NHTI), is about as basic as you can get - but it works! It is recyclable and rechargeable, and in its guide as the 911+ emergency cell phone, can be powered by three regular AA batteries!
The five-ounce phone is packaged with nationwide minutes and retails for $39.99 (15 minutes); $49.99 (30 minutes); or $59.99 (60 minutes), and will be available at your local grocery, hardware store, or Kwikee Mart. Duracell, a major partner, will be marketing the phone alongside its battery displays.
The purchaser activates the phone himself by dialling a toll-free number. A live operator asks for his ESN (electronic serial number), and gives the customer his own phone number. Voila!
The low cost and simplicity means the phone will appeal to seniors and to parents with pre-teen children - who may need to phone home, but don't need to SMS. NHTI hopes people will buy the Cyclone like flashlights, and store them throughout the house, car, cottage, school locker or backpack....ready for use in the next emergency.
Posted by Sam in Industry
and Mobile & PDAs
and Phones
and Wireless
Comments
Interesting concept for sure, but I expect it to go over like a lead balloon. $40 for 15 minutes?? Please. If they want them to be as ubiquitous as flashlights, they have to be priced like flashlights. When these things drop under $10, for even as little as 20 minutes of talk time, then they might have a prayer. Until then, nah...
Posted by: Craig at October 15, 2003 9:34 AM
Sorry, I gave perhaps the wrong impression.
To be fair to the company, the phone is $39.99 with 15 minutes built-in free ($0 for 15 minutes).
Pay $10 more up front and you get a phone with 30 minutes built-in ($39.99 phone + $10 for 30 minutes). Paying $20 more gets you the phone plus 60 minutes built in ($39.99 phone + $20 for 60 minutes).
Then, now that you have bought your phone, you can 'recharge' when you've used up the built-in minutes by buying more minutes at X cents/minute (whatever that is).
In principle, though, I agree....if they can get the up-front cost of that phone to $10 or lower, that's when this'll tale off.
Posted by: Sam at October 15, 2003 2:45 PM
My initial reaction exactly. Too expensive. Perhpas it might be better for them to give the phone away and charge a bit more for each minutes (let's say 4 cents per minute).
Posted by: Ken at October 15, 2003 4:19 PM
Or get taken over by Duracell and make the phone a loss-leader for battery sales, as well as minutes.
Posted by: Sam at October 15, 2003 5:29 PM