netphone edition

Smart has just revealed its very first Netphone Edition smartphone -- retaining the original name of the Samsung Galaxy Y complete with the Netphone suite of apps. It's a curious move considering they actually had the un-released and cheaper Netphone 501 hanging since Mobile World Congress back in February. From the looks of it, the Netphone 501 (another ZTE handset) is supposed to be the cheaper variant of the Netphone line-up and should have been launched together with the Netphone 701 many weeks back. Why Smart did not release that cheaper Android phone is unknown but by the fact that they went and looked somewhere else to replace the handset in that price category gives us a hint that the Netphone 501 might not have performed as expected. As such we're seeing the Samsung Galaxy Y sporting the Netphone Edition. Coincidentally, there's also that leaked HTC Desire S Netphone Edition {via Unboxed} which has not yet been officially announced. The trio seems to have completed the line-up -- a 6k, 10k and 20k Netphone variants. My guess is that if it's a well-known brand, Smart will retain their original names and just add the "Netphone Edition" tag. Read more in our articles including "There you go -- no need to buy a Smart Netphone " and "Smart Netphone first impressions".