Mozilla plans to roll out $25 smartphone aimed at emerging markets

Mozilla has reportedly announced its plans to roll out a cheaper smartphone aimed at emerging markets.

The company, in partnership with Chinese low-cost chip maker Spreadtrum, unveiled a 25 dollar prototype.

According to the BBC, the low-cost device would not be as powerful as high-end smartphones, but would run apps and make use of mobile internet.

Analysts said that the device would appeal to the sorts of people who currently buy cheap 'feature' phones.

Mozilla hopes that it would capture an early lead in a market that is now being targeted by mobile device manufacturers who see the developing world as the remaining area for massive growth.

Spreadtrum said that these solutions expand the global accessibility of open web smartphones to first-time and entry-level smartphone buyers by reducing the time and cost required for handset makers to bring these devices to market.

Meanwhile, analyst from Kantar Worldpanel, Carolina Milanesi, said that these cheaper handsets should not be seen as competitors against bigger brands like Apple and Samsung.

Milanesi said that it one is not really talking about smartphone experience, but about a clumsy smartphone that's a little bit better than a feature phone, still primarily for voice and text.

She further said that the phone runs Mozilla's own mobile operating system, something that could cause problems as competition in the cheap smartphone market steps up, the report added.