BPhone and its manufacturer BKAV (Bach Khoa Antivirus Center) have successfully done what no other Vietnamese product could do before – becoming a hot topic on netizens’ forums.

However, there is difference in the way Vietnamese netizens look at BPhone before and after it was introduced on May 26 at a ceremony broadcast live on internet.

While netizens repeatedly ridiculed BPhone before the launching day, they have been cautious talking about the blockbuster product after they saw the BPhone.

In Vietnamese thought, made-in-Vietnam products mean low-quality products which target low income earners. Therefore, the fact that BPhone, positioned as high-end product with the selling price of VND10 million at least, was “unbelievable” to them. 

They called Nguyen Tu Quang, chair of BKAV, a boaster as Quang compared BPhone, a Vietnamese product, with iPhone and other products which are favored worldwide.

However, Vietnamese netizens tend to talk about the new model with goodwill.

Bui Minh D wrote on his Facebook that BPhone, which could be the pride of Vietnamese, is bearing unfair criticism.

As for Transfer Jet, Fast Tracking, the price of VND9.999 million is “really reasonable” for a product with battery capacity of 3000mAh and strong security commitments from a leading security firm (BKAV was born as an internet security firm).

“Maybe BPhone is not suitable for you. But you should understand that security is a concern for anyone, from heads of states to policemen and common people,” he commented.

Many young people agreed with D’s comments.

Tran Cong V, 27, said the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of VND10 million for BPhone is equal to the price of Oppo R5 from China. Meanwhile, BPhone is more powerful in configuration. 

The launching of BPhone has caught the attention of Asian newswires. Tech In Asia on May 26 reported about the event with the title “Here’s Vietnam’s first homegrown smartphone”.

According to Tech In Asia, BKAV strives to build BPhone into a smartphone with high security and safety, like the image attached to BlackBerry.

China News Agency has also reported about the launching of BPhone, focusing on its outstanding features, including the TransferJet, the wireless data transmission technology. BPhone is designed by a security firm, and therefore, it has outstanding features in security, anti-virus and anti-spy software.

US$1 = VND21,000

Kim Chi