Ringing Bells has hit headlines once again, this time for promising to deliver 65000 units of the Freedom 251 to customers. The company claims that it’s managed to successfully deliver 5000 units of the handset to customers across India.
To recall, the Freedom 251 was launched to much fanfare back in February this year due to its Rs 251 price tag. It apparently managed to generate 7 crore registrations. After countless delays and empty promises, Ringing Bells finally got around to shipping the phone to a measly 5000 consumers last month who had to pay Rs 251 in addition to a Rs 40 delivery charge.
Ringing Bells now plans to distribute the phone on a cash on delivery basis to 65000 people chosen via a lottery system. Locations include Haryana, West Bengal, New Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
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Ringing Bells CEO Mohit Goel had previously gone on record to say that he would require $7.4 billion or Rs 50000 crore from the Indian government in order to save his company from heavy losses. He even wrote to the Prime Minister asking for his help, claiming that the handset would help further the goals of Modi’s Digital India initiative.
Here’s a quick look at the specifications of the Ringing Bells Freedom 251:
– Display: 4-inch IPS qHD
– OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop
– CPU: 1.3GHz quad-core
– Storage: 8GB, expandable up till 32GB
– RAM: 1GB
– Battery: 1450mAh
– Camera: 3.2MP rear, 0.3MP front
It should be noted that no one has heard from the 5000 customers who supposedly got the Ringing Bells Freedom 251. There’s very little evidence to show it was handed over at all. Expanding its horizons to 65000 customers should bring in more proof that the phone works and isn’t just an elaborate ponzi scam.