SINGAPORE - An Indian phone-maker has started shipping what it said was the world's cheapest smartphone after months of criticism that the offer was a scam.
Ringing Bells had announced it would sell the phone for 251 rupees (US$3) five months ago but quickly ran into trouble. The unknown company, run by former dried fruit businessman Mohit Goel, 29, was overwhelmed by some 75 million orders and its online payment gateway crashed.
Various Indian agencies then launched investigations, including one by the police for cheating. The company was even accused of being a "fly-by-night operation".