Hutchison offshoot pushes low end webphones

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Hutchison offshoot pushes low end webphones

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 15 October, 2008

READ MORE: Hutchison

A small part of the Hutchison Whampoa empire is seeking to ride the social networking wave, expanding on the model of offering simple phones focused on a key integrated application - as pioneered by 3 UK with its Skype phone. INQ, a new subsidiary being officially launched this week, is focusing on low end handsets that come with certain key web and messaging applications pre-installed.

The aim is to appeal to the rising number of people, especially in the teenage market, who want to make more use of the mobile internet, but who have limited budgets and are looking for an easy-to-use experience. INQ is looking to open access, low-subsidy, web-optimized phones for the mass market, and aims to offer them through non-Hutchison carriers too, though the first launches will be via 3 UK and Australia.

The devices will integrate several services but will be particularly focused on social networking, via the Facebook offering. They will also pre-install eBay, MSN, Skype and others, with quick links from the simple home screen. This offers a good halfway house between an entirely siloed Facebook device and an unfettered web experience, which can still be confusing and hard to use for many non-enthusiasts. The contact list acts as the foundation for the whole range of apps including email and messaging.

The devices also aim to support modern mobile internet models by being sufficiently low cost to need little operator subsidy. They should retail for about £100. After the UK and Australia, Meehan says about six other markets will follow by mid-2009. Although 3 operations are the most likely initial partners, INQ wants to target a wider base than its sister companies and is aiming for a US launch, though it does not expect a US carrier deal until at least the middle of next year.