Affordable handsets produced for less developed markets

Making forays into premium segments dominates the headlines of most smartphone-related stories. But that is by no means the sole theme. Chinese smartphone vendors are also intensifying their efforts to develop super cheap handsets, as part of a broader plan to expand their presence in African and Asian markets.

ZTE Corp, a major Chinese smartphone vendor and telecom equipment maker, has unveiled a model called Tempo Go that will be available unlocked for around $80 in selective regions.

The new handset is equipped with Android Go, a new version of a mobile operating system developed by Google Inc to target users with limited internet connectivity and expensive data plans that need to be carefully conserved.