Unlike Apple, Google or Samsung, Alcatel is chasing the lower end of the phone market having released the world’s cheapest handset.
The £5 Alcatel 1010 handset has a 106 x 46 x 13 mm colour display and weighs about 59g.
The pay-as-you-go device, which is only available on the T-Mobile network, can be bought at Asda or online and no minimum top-up is required.
This could be a smart move by the supermarket as low-cost gadgets are likely to be on shopping lists in the run-up to Christmas. Asda said it sees it being popular among elderly people and serving well for users worried about losing or having their smartphone stolen.
And while smartphones, with moderate usage, struggle to last a day before needing to be recharged, the Alcatel 1010 lasts up to 333 hours on standby.
So if you’re a price-sensitive buyer and don’t expect any fancy features, although the phone does come with a built-in MP3 player and wireless FM radio, why not put it on your shopping list for Christmas?
