Chinese mobile phone start-up OnePlus has now ended one of the most intriguing sales strategies of any phone manufacturer, which only allowed sales of the phones on a Tuesday or with an invite.
The phone was launched almost exactly one year ago and uses the modified Android operating system Cyanogen. It is widely regarded among those invested in all things mobile phones due to its appeal as a phone that boasts impressive hardware, but at a cost that is considerably less than other phones of a similar spec.
Speaking to Siliconrepublic.com last November, Bridget Hickey, communications manager with OnePlus, added further credence to the idea that the company goes about its business in a rather different way after saying that the company doesn’t foresee a time when hardware is the driver of its financial future, but rather the software that comes with it.
Now, in a blog post, the company has said the OnePlus One is being made available globally online for the first time in preparation for the eventual launch of the OnePlus 2, which will bring back the invite-only model once again.
“We have always wanted to put great products into the hands of more people. And we now feel confident that we have matured enough to handle the increased complexity that comes along with opening up sales completely,” the company’s blog post said.
Likewise, commenting on the reason for reinstating the invite system for the OnePlus Two, the company say it’s all part of a fine balance of cost margins: “We’re committed to maintaining razor-thin margins in order to give as much value as possible back to our users, and this drastically increases our risk. The OnePlus 2 will bring the challenges that come along with a brand new product and, initially, our invite system will help us to manage that risk.”
OnePlus One phone and charger image via opopododo/Flickr
