Hong Kong, China <22  October 2020>  –Today KaiOS Technologies, maker of the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones, and E. B. Solutions Limited, leading Bangladeshi technology solution provider, announced Geo Phone T15. Available for 3,500 Taka (USD 41) this new KaiOS-enabled device makes access to popular apps and high-speed mobile internet more affordable than budget-oriented smartphones. The T15 also includes an infrared thermometer developed by FISE, the first of its kind in a smart feature phone.

South Asia is one of the areas hit hardest by the global digital divide according to the GSMA, as 55% of the population remains isolated from mobile internet, severely limiting access to both educational resources and popular applications. To create a rich user experience without a costly price tag, the T15 combines affordable feature phone hardware with KaiOS, giving users access to hundreds of popular apps including WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and the Google Assistant through the KaiStore.

Bangladesh is also in dire need of digital tools to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 390 thousand* confirmed COVID-19 cases and a ranking as the sixth most densely populated country globally. Combining an IR thermometer with high-speed 4G internet access, the Geo Phone T15 democratizes access to instant, touchless temperature monitoring and online health resources, enabling the people of Bangladesh to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“This combination of high-speed internet, on-the-go temperature monitoring, and affordability are perfect for Bangladesh,” said Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies. “Popular apps and other vital digital resources are more accessible than ever via the T15, alongside the potentially life-saving power of contactless temperature readings. With E. B. Solutions Ltd., we’re taking a crucial step towards closing the digital divide in South Asia, and helping stop the spread of COVID-19 through an affordable, innovative device.”

“Geo Phone T-15 will be an affordable device which can narrow this digital divide for rural populations. Geo Phone T15, powered by KaiOS, is a 4G VoLTE enabled device with necessary apps for your digital lifestyle,” said Rafiur Rahman Khan Yusufzai, Managing Director of E. B. Solutions Ltd. “It is notably the first smart feature phone with a built-in infrared thermometer.”

Accurate down to 0.2 degrees Celsius, the T15’s IR thermometer is located next to the smart feature phone’s rear-facing camera. Users simply point it at the subject’s forehead for an instant, accurate temperature reading. The Geo Phone T15 also provides access to educational resources such as Kai’s in-house app Life, which features lessons and self-help articles related to COVID-19, general health, digital literacy, agriculture, and more.

About KaiOS Technologies

KaiOS Technologies powers an ecosystem of affordable digital products and services, and exists to empower people around the world through technology. Its flagship product, KaiOS, is the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones with more than 135 million devices shipped in over 150 countries. Kai’s mission is to  open up new possibilities for individuals, organizations, and societies by bringing mobile connectivity to the billions of people without internet in emerging markets, as well as providing those in established markets with an alternative to smartphones. KaiOS is based on HTML5 and other open web technologies. Devices running on the platform require limited memory, while still offering a rich user experience through access to apps like Google Assistant, WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook and Google Maps.

About E. B. Solutions Ltd. (a concern of EBS Group)

E. B. Solutions Ltd. (“EBS”) is the parent company of EBS Group, founded in 2004 and currently the largest Telecom Value Added & IT Solution Provider in Bangladesh with 100+ deployments at home and in 10 different countries worldwide. EBS Group also has other spin-off companies, each of which provides products and services in different industry verticals. With an experience of delivering telecom VAS services, smartphone apps and carrier-grade solutions for the telecom industry, EBS is now determined to do something about the persisting digital divide in the country where 59% rural households still do not have access to a smartphone. Therefore, with the newest product, country’s first smart feature phone run by KaiOS – Geo Phone T15, and with “Dream-Innovate-Enjoy” as its brand philosophy, EBS’s new mission is to provide value for money for fiscally conservative population who needs social connectivity to enrich their lives.

KaiOS Media Contact

Eletta Leung / Sarah Collins
eletta.leung@kaiostech.com / scollins@hoffman.com +1 (408) 286 2611

EBS Media Contact

Rajkumar Chakraborty / Shomeshwar Oli
rajkumar@ebsbd.com / shomeshwar.oli@ebsbd.com
+8801751993707 / +8801710510377

* As of 19 October, 2020