Innovation: Indonesian co-op developing low cost smartphones

24 Aug 2017

Indonesia’s first digital co-operative, Koperasi Digital Indonesia Mandiri (KDIM), is looking to launch a locally produced, low-end smartphone for those who cannot gain access to smartphone technology. With only half of the country’s population having regular access to Internet, the co-op aims to offer members access to a range of digital services via the phone.

The device will act as a membership tool and will include a digital advertising system embedded in the platform. Features include a 4.7 inch-screen, a 1.5 Ghz quadcore processor, 1GB of RAM, two cameras, two SIM card slots and 4G LTE compatibility. The smartphone can only be obtained by becoming a member of the co-op at the cost of USD $7.48 per month.

Members gain points when they use the apps provided by the phone such as digital transactions and shopping. The points will be added up and they will receive rupiahs in exchange, depending on how much they used the platform. The digital co-op will also market the platform to other co-ops, which will be able to use to provide their members digital services.

Koperasi Digital Indonesia Mandiri has already attracted over 25,000 members, 5,000 direct members and 25,000 from other co-ops. KDIM was set up in June last year by the Associations of Indonesian Internet Providers (APJII) and Indonesian Information and Telecommunications Society (Mastel).

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