Obi smartphones Worldphone SF1, SJ1.5 launched

NEW DELHI: Obi Worldphone, the smartphone company co-founded by former CEO of Apple and former president of Pepsi John Sculley, launched two new affordable Android smartphones – the SF1 and SJ1.5 in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Both phones designed by renowned San Francisco-based product studio Ammunition, Obi WorldphoneSF1 and SJ1.5 are set apart by iconic industrial design.

Ammunition also developed Obi Lifespeed, a custom user interface for Android that unifies the software and hardware experience. Obi integrates elegant design with high-end technology from Qualcomm, Dolby, Sony, Corning Incorporated, Google, MediaTek, Japan Display, Inc. and Samsung to deliver a powerful performance.

Obi Worldphone SF1 is the company's flagship 4G/LTE smartphone featuring state-of-the-art photography and audio capabilities. The SF1 has a raised 5-inch display made of durable Corning Gorilla Glass 4 - an instantly recognizable signature element that emphasizes the interplay of the hardware with the user interface.

The SF1 also features a long-life, quick-charge battery and easy-access, dual SIM slot with micro secure digital (SD) expansion. The SF1’s suggested retail price is $199 for the 2 GB RAM / 16 GB internal memory version and $249 for the 3 GB RAM / 32 GB internal memory version.

Obi has the full capabilities of the QualcommSnapdragon 615 processor to power the SF1’s 13-megapixel camera and best-in-class Sony IMX214 Exmor sensor to enable people to capture more professional-looking images.

The SF1 features Dolby Audio, which delivers crystal clear surround sound though the device speakers and with headphones.

Interestingly, The SF1 also features Qualcomm Quick Charge 1.0 power management technology, which dramatically decreases the time required to charge the battery. The SF1 can charge to full power in less than three hours, which is about 40% faster than older phones. The SF1 runs on Google Android Lollipop. The SF1 is named after its city of origin, San Francisco.

Similarly, the Obi Worldphone SJ1.5 is a 3G smartphone powered by the MediaTek MT6580 Quad-Core processor. The SJ1.5 has an asymmetrical design, with a crisp, squared-off top and a curved bottom that gives it a distinctive silhouette.

The screen is made from 2.5D curved glass built flush with the body of the phone to give it a seamless feel in the hand. The SJ1.5 offers unique color and accent options, taking a more expressive approach. In addition to featuring easy-access dual SIM slots, the SJ1.5 comes with 16 GB of internal storage and a card slot for memory expansion. The SJ1.5 sports front and rear cameras and is protected by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

The SJ1.5 uses the Android Lollipop operating system and its suggested retail price is $129. It’s named after Silicon Valley’s other major city, San Jose.

Security and app partnerships

Obi’s two security and privacy features at launch are AVG AntiVirus PRO for Android to help protect Obi devices from malware, viruses and theft, and Google Android’s built-in security layers for protection against intrusions.

The SF1 and SJ1.5 can run Google Play Store supported Android applications. Besides the AVG Anti-Virus app, other apps loaded on the SF1 and SJ1.5 will be Swiftkey, AccuWeather, Clean Master, and ColorNote.

"It takes a community to create a unique technology product and customer experience, and Obi has developed a strong, global eco-system of more than 20 companies — all contributing to inspire our Worldphone vision and make it a reality," said Neeraj Chauhan, Obi's co-founder and CEO.

“Over the next three years one billion users will upgrade from low-end, starter smartphones to models with more power and greater functionality," said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies, Inc. of San Jose, Calif., a 35-year market analyst and research firm evaluating the global adoption of consumer technology. The brand is positioned to leverage that opportunity.