El Vergatario: the world’s cheapest mobile phone
May 17th, 2009 | Published in Mobile Devices | 8 Comments
Ooops he did it again… I’ve never been a particular fan of Hugo Chavez and his politics, but I do have to admit this time I am impressed. Venezuela is a big country with lots of remote places where telecommunications are needed. To tackle such problems, the so-called Bolivarian government of Hugo Chavez came out with the solution: a mobile phone for the masses. The anticipated “El Vergatario” (I would love to know who chose that name, that yes… translates something like man’s big dominant penis) phone is produced by the Chinese company ZTE in conjunction with the Venezuelan government that holds 85% of the enterprise. The phone is been assembled in a new factory in Paraguaná (that is the middle of nowhere) and will produce 600 thousand to a million units a year at an initial price of 14.00$ USD making it the world’s cheapest mobile phone ever. The idea is as it now to expand the Vergatario operation throughout all Latin America in the next coming years.
The phone comes with camera, mp3 player, radio and like Chavez himself mentioned “it also comes with a phone…” impressed by all the teki features the phone currently has. When you see the device for the first time, it sort of reminds you of an early Sony walkman phone in shape and color. Apparently the design and operating system of the phone will change in the near future, using Android as the force behind it and turning the Vergatario into a smartphone.
The acceptance of the Vergatario has been huge. 100 thousand phones sold in less than 3hrs on mother’s day. Outside the offices of Movilnet a long line of people was waiting to get their phones with the same enthusiasm people was waiting for apple’s iPhone when it came out.
Why is this important? it will change the economy and the very political fabric of Venezuela forever. An affordable mobile solution will increase the internal development of the country and solve the communication problem in the remote areas of Venezuela. Thanks Andrew for bringing “El Vergatario” to my attention.
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:28 PM (#)
I would love to have a vergatario my self. Cool mobile phone for the people!
February 11th, 2010 at 8:54 PM (#)
Hugo rules! I like it politics!
May 20th, 2010 at 5:25 AM (#)
sometimes it i have a hard time selecting which mobile phone to buy. there are too many options to choose from.-*~
June 10th, 2010 at 6:15 PM (#)
I am always on the lookout for new models of Nokia phone and also iPhone.””
June 29th, 2010 at 9:12 PM (#)
It sucks! Only ignorant people will buy this!
There is nothing interesting about this phone! It is just a regular phone, if you want something nice buy yourself a real iphone, or at least an Android.
June 29th, 2010 at 9:20 PM (#)
Well is the cheapest in the market for regular people. This is not to compete with an android, that is not the point.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:36 PM (#)
my mobile phone is not the latest one but it sure has lots
of features ;`;
December 30th, 2010 at 5:08 PM (#)
It sucks! Only ignorant people will buy this! There is
nothing interesting about this phone! It is just a regular phone,
if you want something nice buy yourself a real iphone, or at least
an Android. In addition, what a horrible name! Only people with no
class at all will name a phone this way… and by that I mean
Chavez=Stupit Idiot! # 30 June 2010 at 3:16 am FOUND ON:
http://www.gadget.pdamu.com/2009/03/11/el-vergatario-cheapest-cell-phone-in-the-world-from-venezuela/
Luisa says: June 29th, 2010 at 9:12 PM (#) It sucks! Only ignorant
people will buy this! There is nothing interesting about this
phone! It is just a regular phone, if you want something nice buy
yourself a real iphone, or at least an Android. FOUND ON:
http://juan.threeview.com/el-vergatario-the-worlds-cheapest-mobile-phone/
Emilia 6 months ago It sucks! Only ignorant people will buy this!
There is nothing interesting about this phone! It is just a regular
phone, if you want something nice buy yourself a real iphone, or at
least an Android. In addition, what a horrible name! Only people
with no class at all will name a phone this way… and by that I
mean Chavez=Stupit Idiot! FOUND ON:
http://www.examiner.com/tech-culture-in-minneapolis/new-venezuelan-cell-phone-vergatario-announced-by-president-hugo-chavez
This person is clearly unable to see the value of affordable
technology in the developing world.