On Friday, ZTE put its ZTE Open Firefox OS handset exclusively for sale on eBay UK and eBay US.
It was priced at a crazy £60 in the UK.
It was released on ebay last Friday, but by Monday both the US and UK eBay stores of ZTE, the Chinese company which manufactured the handset, had sold out. The budget phone will now no longer be available until the next production run.
However, don’t panic. If you really want a ZTE Open, you can buy mine for £70 plus £5 postage.
The ZTE Open was available on eBay. I posted details on Sunday, click here for the specifications and more.
So it arrived. Below are the unboxing photos.
Opening the box reveals the orange phone.
Under the phone is the accessories and guides.
And a quick look at the phone profile.
First impressions are this is such a basic phone but it works just. Setting up Google email was fine but it didn’t setup the calendar or contacts. The calendar app had an option for Google but it didn’t work. Contact app was manual add a contact, import from Facebook or sim card. Luckily, there was a free app on the market place that imported my contacts but there is no two way sync.
Apps. The market place is a poor currently. I’ve installed the twitter app. BUT. The phone doesn’t need apps. It’s Firefox OS.
Swipping left to right reveals loads of headings, each with all the key website shortcuts saved eg YouTube, amazon, eBay, WordPress, LinkedIn and loads more. Firefox OS is a Web based device.
The phone comes pre installed with Firefox Web browser, video, music, FM radio, camera, calculator, usage, Nokia Here Maps, accuweather, notes, Wikipedia and clock apps.
It read the music from my micro sd card with ease along with the album art. The loudspeaker is not loud but is clear. The notification pull down also provides access to settings toggles for wifi, data, bluetooth, aeroplane mode and all settings.
It takes a full size sim card, so I need to get an adapter before I can test it out as a phone.
It’s basic but quirky nonetheless.
Update. Rebooting phone, and Google Calendar was all setup. Interestingly, in the settings it checks for updates daily.
ZTE eBay store is now selling the first Firefox OS phone called Open.
Firefox OS anticipates your needs, adapts to every situation and instantly delivers the
information you want. Apparently.
That includes popular, big name apps, but also local content that means the most to you and your life.
It costs £60 inclusive of postage. I should receive this little pocket monster early next week, so expect a review shortly. Specs include –
1.0 GHz Cortex-A5 built-in A-GPS Sensor, GPU Adreno 200
512mb rom, 254mb ram
3.5 inch screen TFT, 320 x 480
Support US 3G NETWORK
2G NETWORK:GSM 850/900/1800/1900
3G NETWORK:UMTS 900/2100
3.15mp camera, FM Radio, MP3 Player, Video Player, Photo Editing Filters
Support for 32gb micro SD cards
Nokia Here Maps – Directions, Transit and Traffic
For £60 this does seem like a bargain. Or is it too good to be true. More next week.
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