Eric Gundersen's blog
Posted by Eric Gundersen on Jun 06, 2005
Cell phones need to be cheaper so that more people in developing
countries can plug in. Lower cost communication options can help in so
many aspects of poor people’s lives, from facilitating the finding of
more accurate information on market prices to organizing to speak out
against a government that often neglects them.
Bringing cell phones to the masses around the world is also a huge
market place for producers to tap. But right now the price of handsets
is still prohibitive for may poor people. Cellular-News recently
published the article, $25 cellular
handset achievable within two years (http://www.cellular-news.com/story/13029.php), looking at industry
expectations for lower prices over the next several years.
“Among respondents to the survey, 80% reported a belief that a low-end
GSM handset with a total bill-of-materials cost of US$25 can be
achieved within two years or less, while 51% believe this level can be
reached within one year or less. In addition to electronic and
mechanical components, the cost of the handset as presented in the
survey was defined to include battery, testing, final assembly,
software and IP licensing, and product packaging.”
