London-based wireless launcher Nothing has set the stage for the launch of its first smartphone product next month by releasing translucent images (see photo above) that reveal, at least from the back, the inside of the product.
The smartphone, called Phone (1), will be officially unveiled on July 12, after which it will be available in the UK via Virgin Media O2, in Germany via Deutsche Telekom and in India via the online market Flipkart. The partnerships of the O2 and DT channels are an exclusive relationship for entering the market, nothing was revealed earlier this year. Details about the prices have not been published yet, but the smartphone will definitely not be delivered with an accompanying parrot …
Nothing was created in 2020 by Carl Pay, who believes there is a gap in what is already a highly competitive market for “intuitive, seamlessly connected products that improve our lives without interfering with us” (which also describes the company’s approach on its website). Pei has experience in the sector: He was a co-founder of Chinese device maker OnePlus, which is now part of the world’s fourth-largest smartphone maker, Oppo.
Now Pei wants to disrupt the smartphone market and get under the skin of Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and others for the second time with his boldly named new company, which is already generating revenue.
And there are investors ready to support his mission. At the end of 2020, Nothing raised $ 7 million in initial funding from a number of “notable technology leaders” and individual investors, followed by a $ 15 million round of A-round funding from GV (formerly Google Ventures), Alphabet’s venture capital division. Google’s parent company). He also raised $ 1.5 million through group funding efforts, which attracted a lot of interest from individual investors, and then extended his Serie A round by another $ 50 million late last year to increase his total funding to more than $ 73 million.
Then, in August 2021, the company launched its first commercial product, a wireless headset called Ear (1), which retails for £ 99 (US $ 120). Pei told the Financial Times (FT) this week that more than 530,000 Ear (1) pieces have already been delivered to a very crowded market.
Earlier this year, Nothing raised $ 70 million in a series of B-series funding co-led by EQT Ventures and C Ventures. “This funding will be used to create new product categories in partnership with Qualcomm Technologies and its Snapdragon platform and to expand operations at the new London design center, led by former Dyson design manager Adam Bates,” the company said.
This semiconductor system-on-a-chip Snapdragon will be the basis of the Phone (1), which will run on the operating system Nothing (OS), which is based on Android.
The second half of this year will be indicative of nothing. The smartphone market is currently at a standstill due to a number of factors (including supply chain issues) and a funky new device could help boost the sector, albeit in a select few markets. But Pay told the FT that the company has ambitions to bring the smartphone to market in the United States if the initial launch in July goes well.
There is no doubt that Nothing has a lot of noise about this and a very creative marketing team (as well as experienced technical and design staff and influential supporters). But while this combination is strong, it does not guarantee success: nothing will need a pricing strategy and will need to generate strong, positive feedback from customers and not fall on the experience and customer service if it wants to leave its mark. in the international smartphone sector.
– Ray Le Mester, Editor-in-Chief, TelecomTV
Add Comment