Ringing Bells Freedom 251: Top 5 things to know before buying

Everybody who has been trying to book the Ringing Bells Freedom 251 smartphone must know that the company has stopped all bookings, raising questions if the phone actually exists. Launched at Rs 251 only, Freedom 251 is on the radar of many, including the Telecom Ministry and other handset makers in India. We try and look at the 5 things that you must know before buying Freedom 251.

According to the sources, the I-T Department is looking into the financial structure of the Noida-based company and have obtained documents, including those from the Registrar of Companies (RoC), in this regard. The company stopped taking bookings as it claimed to have gotten 6 lakhs hits per minute on its website and over 6 crore orders. While Ringing Bells promises deliveries by June 30, some users claim they have gotten no proof that their order has been confirmed.

Also, the Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has asked Department of Electronics and IT Secretary (Deity) Aruna Sharma to look into the scheme of Ringing Bells offering a smartphone for just Rs 251. “The minister has received a representation from Kirit Somaiya and mobile phone manufacturers where they have expressed doubt about the veracity of this venture,” a Telecom Ministry source told PTI.

People who were unable to book the Freedom 251 or whose orders were not confirmed reportedly held Protests outside the Ringing Bells office in Noida. Reports say that frustrated customers have turned up outside the office of Ringing Bells and have been demanding that the company hand over the smartphone right now. The Freedom 251 in itself seems to good to be true and with Ringing Bells not coming out with any clarifications over failure of bookings etc, it is bound to create a ruckus.

The mobile phone industry body ICA too has raised some red flags over Freedom 251. “We have checked with all operators in the industry, and no one has admitted to having been in any kind of bundling deal or partnership with them. I will only say consumers should stay cautious. More than consumers, it may hurt businessmen in small towns if the promise made by the company fails,” ICA National President Pankaj Mohindroo said.

Lastly, with questions being raised over the promised price of Rs 251 for a 3G smartphone by new entrant Ringing Bells, the Telecom Ministry has found that a device with such specifications would cost about Rs 2,300. “The Ministry has analysed the issue and it feels that such a device can be manufactured for about Rs 2,300,” sources told PTI. However, they refused to say if any action will be taken against the company in the matter.