Communications: Motorola chosen to supply low cost phones to developing nations

Following a spate of recent reports that high taxes on cell phones in developing countries is inhibiting development, a global association of cell phone operators has chosen Motorola to supply a low-cost handset to developing nations to improve access to telecommunications services.

The phones will cost under $30 and offer 450 minutes talk time and a maximum 330 hours of standby. Ten mobile phone operators have said they expect to order about six million of the low cost handsets from Motorola.

All of a sudden, cell phone stake holders have become interested the development of less wealthy nations - or perhaps the development of a huge new market.