When Bkav, a local network security company, unveiled its Bphone earlier this year, company CEO Nguyen Tu Quang called it "the best smartphone in the world". The device, however, ultimately proved to be a flop, posting poor sales figures and prompting a highly publicized recall. In the end, what was meant to be an iPhone killer turned out to be a failure, but instead of shunning the hardware game Bkav has doubled down, announcing two new products, a tablet and a smart watch, in addition to the second-generation Bphone.
The new devices, set to be released in early 2016, were confirmed by a company representative, who told Thanh Nien that the products have tentatively been named the Bpad and Bwatch.
Only time will tell if Bkav’s new offerings will please those consumers who found the original Bphone’s build and performance lacking in light of its high price point (VND9.99 million - VND20.19 million). As a result of its cost, only 12,000 units were sold. This was something of an anticlimax to Quang's earlier statement, made at the Bphone's May 2015 launch event, in which he told an audience of 2,000 people: "This is the best smartphone in the world. We did it!"
The disappointing first generation Bphone. Photo via Hanh Nguyen.
Perhaps he’ll let the products speak for themselves this time around.
[Photo via FPT]
