Ringing Bells Private Limited

Ringing Bells company
Private
Industry Telecommunications, Consumer electronics
Founded September 16, 2015 (2015-09-16) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Founders Mohit Goel (Managing Director)
Headquarters Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Area served
 India
Products Mobile phones
Smartphones
LEDs
Accessories
Website www.ringingbells.co.in

Ringing Bells Private Limited is a company based in Noida (India), registered on 16 September 2015.[1][2]

Freedom 251

The company attracted attention when it announced the Freedom 251, a 3G smartphone, at a price of ₹ 251 (INR 251)[3] (after 20:00, on the 21st of February 2016, the price will become ₹ 500[1]). That would make it the world's cheapest smartphone. The company claims to have delivered 5,000 units of Freedom 251 in its first batch, with plans for a further 65,000.[4]

Scam Allegations

There are suggestions that the Freedom 251 sale is a scam.[5] It is alleged that the phone looks like a Chinese phone with the original brand label covered with whitener. The icons shown on screen shots are copied from Apple's iPhone. MP Kirit Somaiya describes the offer as a "huge scam" and has asked the government of Uttar Pradesh to investigate.[6]

As a result of these concerns, the payment gateway facilitator PayUBiz decided to withhold payment to Ringing Bells until the items were dispatched. In response, Ringing Bells stated that they would accept payment by cash-on-delivery for those customers who had placed orders but had been unable to make payment through the payment gateway before the offer closed.[7]

Ringing Bells has also been accused of fraud and non-payment of dues by its customer services provider Cyfuture.[8][9][10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Here's what we know about Ringing Bells--the company behind the Rs 251 smartphone". Daily News and Analysis (DNA). 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  2. ↑ Registration date, status, and the company CIN (U32204DL2015PTC285276) are for Indian companies obtained by running a query from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) page http://www.mca.gov.in/DCAPortalWeb/
  3. ↑ "Ringing Bells Freedom 251". New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV). 2016-02-18. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  4. ↑ "Freedom 251: Ringing Bells To Deliver 65,000 More Rs 251 Phones". News18. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  5. ↑ http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-why-the-freedom-251-might-be-the-scammiest-scam-of-2016_-250897.html
  6. ↑ "Freedom 251 is a ponzi scam: BJP MP Kirit Somaiya", Indian Express, 20 February 2016. Accessed 22 February 2016
  7. ↑ Tech Desk, "Ringing Bells Freedom 251 now has cash on delivery option", Indian Express, 26 February 2016.
  8. ↑ http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/noida-based-bpo-cyfuture-files-police-complaint-against-ringing-bells/articleshow/51159346.cms
  9. ↑ http://www.ibnlive.com/news/tech/freedom-251-maker-ringing-bells-now-accused-of-cheating-and-fraud-by-its-customer-service-provider-1208076.html
  10. ↑ http://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/freedom-251-maker-ringing-bells-accused-of-fraud/story/229627.html
  11. ↑ http://indianexpress.com/photos/technology-gallery/ringing-bells-freedom-251-noida-police-registers-fir-cheating-everything-that-has-happened-so-far/3/

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/ringing-bells-to-import-first-50-lakh-phones-govt-official/article8268425.ece


External links

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