On 21st February Electroneum announced the massive success of its blockchain-based crypto-friendly product M1 smartphones. As per records, this was the first of its kind sale in the history of crypto that a blockchain startup partnered up directly with a local mobile network operator.
Cellcard, one of the biggest network operators in Cambodia joined hands with Electroneum – the oldest mobile-based cryptocurrency project to work in unison for their M1 crypto smartphone.
Cellcard requested 250 pieces of M1 cell phones from Electroneum dependent on the quantity of cell phones they assessed would be sold in one month. Together, they put the figure of 250 with respect to the size of the business they do with multiple channel partners.
Nigel Pooley, Head of Mobile Development at Electroneum, exclaimed that Cellcard executives were pretty surprised to see the “M1 smartphone fly off the shelves within two hours”. After which the team had to place an immediate order for new M1 pieces to increase their stock of the crypto product.
Cellcard propelled a limited time offer of the M1 Electroneum cell phone with the implicit ETN App that offers up to US$3 per month in ETN. The earned ETNs can be utilized for portable top-ups and to buy regular things in a few nations around the globe.
What’s M1 about? The specifications.
M1 marketed as the “The phone that pays you back” was one of the most awaited phones of the cryptospace. Electroneum’s M1 is best described as an affordable android phone designed for people in “developing regions”. With the features “they REALLY need”.
As per the information provided by Electroneum, the product is styled in “Electroneum Blue”, it draws upon the design of “leading smartphones yet eliminates certain drawbacks, including the expensive price tag”. This necessarily doesn’t mean that the phone is outdated or rather less updated than the current expensive phone in the market. It comes with 4G connectivity, Dual Sims, 8GB storage, front/rear-facing cameras, and much more.
That said, let’s take a quick look at the reviews online.
Zfxpyro, a Redditor, in a thread said:
“You’re not missing anything, it’s a cheap sightly overpriced rebranded phone with the software pre-installed, which runs no different to any other phone that downloaded it from an app store. I still can’t get over why anyone thought this was a big deal.(sic)”
While media has stated it to be, “one of the worst-specced smartphones we’ve ever” the product has 4 stars on Amazon.
The online review debate has been very criticizing of M1 which is very contrary to the case offline. Where people are actually buying a crypto-friendly affordable product irrespective of its low features as compared to the high-priced phones.
Additionally, the Electroneum team has also mentioned how the Mobile top-ups have been going very well for them in the seven countries – Cambodia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, and Uganda.
CEO at Electroneum, Richard Ells said: “We have registered nearly 60,000 top-ups in those countries so far, which are such great numbers that we are now ready to live in with this service in 140 countries in the coming days.”