US low cost mobile phone maker Hop-on Inc is targeting the European and Middle Eastern markets with a disposable US$20 GSM phone. The low end terminal, which has no LCD screen, is apparently being ordered by distributors in quantities of 150,000-plus each day.
“We are getting so many inquiries about the disposable cell phone in Europe and the Middle East, we will be hiring additional support to meet the market demands,” claims Hop-on president Peter Michaels. “We will not have any manufacturing issues in the low cost 900/1,800 MHz phone utilising both Texas Instruments chip sets and Infineon chip sets as they are proven technology.”
“This is our biggest opportunity to actually have Hop-on become a household name in the
US
and throughout
Europe
. No one sells a new 10 pounds Sterling GSM cell phone. This is a home run for Hop-on,” adds Michaels. “While we are excited about the interest generated in the European Markets, we don't currently have the resources to market our new disposable cell phone in the
United States
. This will come in time. We want to focus on the European and Middle East markets and then hire the personnel necessary to do it right in
America
.”
As was entirely predictable, the disposable nature of the phone has generated much media comment about the potential impact on the environment if the device is simply thrown away after use.
John Williamson 
