India just released a $4 cellphone with dual camera and wifi option. Was thinking if they used their cell phones to allow others acess to the connection it could potentially branch out wider to bring other people into the fold.
They do not need to change to fiat, just need to show it is a viable currency. Africa exchanges cell minutes as currency and could adopt bitcoin if they see it works in a similar way.
India is looking to shake up the old way of doing banking. They need strong voices to make sure it is not seen as a hinderance.
Bullshit.
From The Verge:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/18/11260488/india-ringing-bells-4-dollar-smartphone-controversyThen, reports surfaced indicating that the review units that were made available weren’t actually Freedom 251s. They were Adcom Ikon 4s, a $61 handset developed by a Delhi based company, and manufactured in Chinese, and Taiwanese units, and currently available in the market.
Amidst the confusion, reports of fraud surfaced. India’s Income Tax Department paid the company’s head office —which was shut down earlier this month— a visit. Since their initial announcement, the Ringing Bells’ website has listed all of its phones, including the Freedom 251 as unavailable for immediate sale, and their social media channels are flooded with unhappy customer comments.
From India Times, April 23:
http://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/mobile/freedom-251-cheapest-smartphone-concerns/51031117"Rs 251 for a 3G smartphone is economically not possible, it's not sustainable. This appears to be a marketing gimmick, if they aren't supported by the Indian government," said Tarun Pathak, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research.
"There is no known model of a subsidy like this that a Rs 4,000-Rs 5,000 phone can be sold at Rs 251," said Pankaj Mohindroo, president of the Indian Cellular Association. "If there is something shrouded in secrecy or non-transparency, then the appropriate authorities will get to bottom of this."
And, of course, it's not the phone, it's the contract where the money's at. Many US providers *give away* a cheap model with a 1-year service contract, or offer high-end phones at a huge discount.
