BLU Products
 | |
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | Miami, Florida, United States (2009) |
| Founders | Samuel Ohev-Zion [1] |
| Headquarters | Doral, Florida, United States |
Key people | Samuel Ohev-Zion (CEO) |
| Products | Mobile phones |
Production output |
|
| Website |
bluproducts |
BLU Products is an American mobile phone manufacturer founded in 2009 and headquartered in Doral, a suburb of Miami, Florida.[2]
The name stands for Bold Like Us. They produce phones with a low base price. Their phones aren't advertised as much so they can save on advertising. The devices they make are designed in Miami and produced in China. Later in 2015 BLU plans on making their phones in Brazil to have a closer connection to its target market.
Its phones are targeted at low income people inside the USA, western Europe and China and the commonfolk of countries like the Costa Rica and Brazil where the average income is lower.
Blu claims sales of over 35 million devices since 2009 in over 40 countries throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States.[3]
The company sells features phones and smartphones running Android and Windows Phone.
History
BLU Products, among the first Latin-owned mobile manufacturer aimed at a Latin population and the fastest-growing in the region, announced its presence at CTIA Wireless 2011. BLU Products was founded by Brazilian entrepreneur Samuel Ohev-Zion.[4]
BLU mobile devices are already present throughout Latin America, Central America, the United States, and all of the Caribbean countries. In regions such as Central America, 50% of devices that are present at the point of sale are BLU devices. In other countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago, BLU rapidly became the leading mobile device brand after launching with a carrier in the 4Q of 2010. In Aruba, the leading cellular carrier Digicel introduced in September 2013 a very low-cost BLU Android cellphone for the local market, going for only Afl.9 (approximately US$6) with a post-paid plan.[5] This year, the company expects to manufacture in Brazil, the largest market in Latin America.[4]
In June 2015, BLU introduced two smartphones in the US market. The BLU Life One (2015 Edition) and the BLU LIFE 8 XL were listed on e-commerce website, Amazon.com.[6]
In August 2015, Blu launched two smartphones, Win HD LTE and Win Jr. LTE in India and Europe.[7][8]
In August 2016, BlackBerry Limited filed suit against Blu for allegedly infringing 15 patents.[9]
Products
Android
- Vivo Series: High-end phones. A notable example is the Vivo Air. BLU Vivo Air, when released, was the one of the world's thinnest cellular phones (the thinnest sold by an American company) which supported 4G HSPA+.[13][14]
- Studio Series: Mid and high-end devices. Phones in this series often support 4G HSPA and some, LTE. They are known for durability. Battery life ranges from low to medium depending on the specific model.[15]
- Blu Studio X (and X plus (5.5 inches)): Comes with Android 4.4.2 and is upgradeable to 5.0.2 lollipop. Marketed as a high use mid range cost phone aimed at people who use their phone a fair amount yet don't wish to pay for a brand name phone.
- Blu Studio G: Lowest end studio series phone. Reliable yet low battery life and low screen resolution. When released it was sold for $99 in stores such as Target, Best Buy and, Amazon.com.
- Life series: BLU's highest end phone series. New phones will include fingerprint sensors, 2K screens and higher range phone processors.
- Touchbook series: A two phone series that has larger screens at 7 inches and 8 inches.
- Pure series: As of October 2015, this series has only one device, the Pure XL.[16]
- Specialty series: Phone's that have special capabilities, some being waterproof.
Windows Phone
- WIN series
Feature Phones
Blu's feature phones have the bar or flip form factors.[17]
References
- 1 2 Pierce, David (18 March 2013). "Meet the tiny, Florida-based phone maker that thinks it can beat Samsung". The Verge. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ↑ "Contact Location". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "About Us". Blu Products. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- 1 2 "First Latin-Owned Mobile Manufacturer Makes Debut at CTIA Wireless 2011". PR Newswire. Blu Products via PR Newswire. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Digicel Aruba mobile phone price plan". Digicel.
- ↑ "BLU’s new Life series phones now on pre-sale at Amazon", bestmobs.com, June 11, 2015
- ↑ http://www.windowscentral.com/blu-win-hd-lte-and-win-jr-lte-windows-phones-launch-europe-amazon
- ↑ "BLU Products expands Windows Phone collaboration with Microsoft by launching 4G LTE Windows Phones in Europe and India Markets". PRNewswire. BLU Products via PRNewswire. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ Mullin, Joe (22 August 2016). "BlackBerry's new round of patent lawsuits targets BLU—and Android". Ars Technica. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ↑ "Dash series". www.androidpolice.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
- ↑ "Dash series". ismooth.com. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
- ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blu-products-expands-dash-series-of-smartphone-devices-introducing-three-new-models---dash-jr-dash-music-40-and-dash-50-starting-at-just-49-unlocked-221461771.html
- ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-blu-vivo-air--americas-thinnest-smartphone--is-now-available-for-purchase-on-amazoncom-300022689.html
- ↑ http://www.slashgear.com/blu-vivo-iv-promises-luxury-durability-31331348/
- ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blu-products-introduces-studio-c-series-smartphone-lineup-with-the-best-performance-and-value-available-in-the-smartphone-marketplace-bringing-freedom-of-choice-to-consumers-270137311.html
- ↑ http://bluproducts.com/index.php/pure-xl
- ↑ "Feature Phones". www.bluproducts.com. Retrieved 2015-10-15.