[Grue3]

The difference is marginal. With $0.5/$3 plan, if the person is poor, they can't afford to go to expensive websites, so they're still locked to the cheap websites. It's still a "net neutrality" situation and the two plans have the same effect in practice. The only solution is to make the entire Internet free for everyone, which is, of course, not happening.

[arihant]

It's not a scheme for people struggling for food. Airtel Zero is only for companies offering Android and iPhone apps. If a person can afford a $120 phone at minimum, they can pay $3 a month. The "poor" is a marketing stunt here. In no way will this scheme make internet accessible for the next half billion in India.

[Someone1234]

> $120 phone at minimum

Uhh, no. I've paid $50 for this (non-contract):

http://www.gsmarena.com/zte_blade-3391.php

And that was new and in 2010. There are tons of amazing phones well below $70, in particular in "developing" markets (like India) where they get some exclusive low end phones that are a bargain for the spec.

If you go look on Airtel's website right now, go mobile offers, buy now, then uncheck the filter at the top and organise Low->High.

They have a 4.5" Android Quad Core, Lollipop phone for $87. If you can live with KitKat then they start at $31.95. If you want a "nice" Kitkat phone then $65.65 will buy you one.

So, yeah, $120 is nowhere ballpark near the minimum. The minimum in the literal sense is $10 and the minimum with Android is $28.81. And that's just buying directly from Airtel, new.