VietNamNet Bridge - Since its launch in mid-2015, BPhone, the first high-end smartphone model, has faced problems. Vietnamese have lost interest in the product.

On November 10, the representative of a retail chain wrote on his Facebook page that he has sold a BPhone in HCM City.

He said he initially thought BPhone would not sell well, but later realized  that other shops have sold many products at a fixed price, with no discounts and no gifts to customers.

However, Tinh Te, a high-technology fan forum, discovered that the customer who bought the BPhone on that day was an officer of BKAV, the manufacturer of BPhone. 

The case immediately caught special attention from the public with hundreds of comments that BKAV played tricks to swindle consumers by creating ‘virtual demand’ for the made-in-Vietnam smartphone product. 

Nguyen Anh Van, the representative of CellphoneS, the distribution chain which sold the BPhone product, confirmed that a customer bought a BPhone in HCM City on November 10 afternoon. Van said he has contacted BKAV to clarify the case and he is now awaiting a reply from the manufacturer.

Meanwhile, Do Thu Hang, BKAV’s media director, said BKAV’s officers won’t play customers to buy BPhones at shops. 

BKAV launched a media campaign before BPhone made its debut, saying it is the most beautiful smartphone available in the world, with wonderful features which no other models can have.

However, controversy about the ‘wonderful features’ occurred after the details about the product were updated.

Some experts doubt BKAV used existing images on internet and changed them with Photoshop to illustrate BPhone’s camera power to give better efficiency about the product’s functions.

The exclusive ringtone has also faced accusation of infringement as it has similarities with ‘Your love is a lie’, a song performed by Simple Plan and Guitar Pro’s music.

Netizens also sneered at BKAV when a company worker, when trying to show the power of BPhone by playing Asphalt 8 Airborne, a mobile game, could not monitor the device. This was then blamed on problems with wi-fi. However, some netizens complained that they could not play the game smoothly. 

Meanwhile, BKAV has been denounced for violating commercial law when comparing BPhone’s features with the features of iPhone 6 Plus to ‘demonstrate BPhone’s power’.

In late October, BKAV stated it was negotiating with some retail chains on the distribution of BPhone at offline shops. 

Dat Viet