First Vietnamese-made smartphone unveiled
Thursday, November 21, 2013, 10:21 GMT+7
State-run Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) surprised attendees of the 2013 Vietnam Telecomp high-tech exhibition on Wednesday by unveiling what it claims to be the first-ever smartphone made in Vietnam.
Vivas Lotus S1 is a dual SIM smartphone equipped with a 5-inch screen, 1GHz processor, 512MB memory, 4GB storage space, 5MP camera, 32GB microSD card slot, and 2200 mAh battery capacity.
The handset is powered by Android 4.0.4, and also has Wi-Fi and 3G access.
The device is reportedly available at VND3.9 million, a mere US$184.
A quick assessment from the firsthand experience on the device by Tuoi Tre found that the handset is relatively thick while its design is not appealing enough.
The handset has as many as five virtual navigation buttons instead of three as normally seen on other smartphones, which may make it difficult for users to touch the right keys as the buttons are too close together.
The Vivas Lotus S1 does not have an HD display but a modest 800x400 resolution.
Bui Quoc Viet, chief of public relations of VNPT, told reporters that its subsidiary VNPT Technology is responsible for all stages of making the phone, from designing and assembling to assessing and developing the related apps and services for the device.
Viet also told Tuoi Tre that unveiling Vivas Lotus S1 is the first step of VNPT Technology into the lucrative smartphone sector.
But he admitted that VNPT Technology will not focus on competing prices as the market is already full of cheap smartphones from China.
Vivas Lotus S1’s strength is the value-added services that accompany it, he said.
VNPT App Store is offering apps carefully selected for Vietnamese users while services like Music, Movie, Radio, and TV are being provided by network operators MobiFone and Vinaphone.
VNPT is the founding shareholder of VNPT Technology. The smartphone maker has a registered capital of VND500 billion and more than 500 engineers.
Vivas Lotus S1 is recognized as the “First smartphone to be researched and developed in Vietnam” by the Vietnam Record Organization.
