Hop-on getting in the Android game
It looks like there’s a new player coming soon to the Android game. Hop-on announced today that it will unveil its first Android-powered device at the upcoming CES 2009 conference this January in Las Vegas. What’s more, the handset will be sold for less than $200. Considering Hop-on is most widely known for its low-end disposable mobile phones, we doubt highly this will be the step up from the HTC G1 many are waiting for. At around $200 however, we also wouldn’t expect it to be disposable. Hop-on blurb time:
Hop-on is committed in bringing the latest technology to the market, the Android open platform makes Hop-on competitive in the high end mobile phone market. This will create market value for our shareholders.
Another interesting consideration is the fact that Hop-on is currently working on a variety of mobile gambling and SMS wagering solutions. Might we see the first Android-powered smartphone casino courtesy of Hop-on? It looks like we’ll have to wait at least until January to find out but even if Hop-on has something sneaky up its sleeve, it’s highly doubtful that we would ever see it here in the US.
[Thanks everyone who sent this in]
Zach
A tiny bit of research would have led you here
http://tinyurl.com/5ph6xx
Pure vaporware
Hop-on appears to be a false front to lure investors. They don’t really produce any products, the CEO is in jail, and the California headquarters is in a strip mall next to a jewelry store.
Press releases shouldn’t be taken for face value.
haha Kelly got punk’d
FAIL
Thanks for the link Pat, looks pretty shady. At the same time I see no concrete evidence that Hop-on is not currently working on an Android handset so perhaps you’d like to elaborate. I see you’re having trouble contacting them, that their CEO is shady, etc – but nothing that conclusively states vaporware.
As of right now (5:30 am PST) their phone system is working fine – perhaps you and the others making some pretty harsh accusations will try again to get in touch with the company so that these claims might be better-substantiated.
Their phone system is on, but no one ever answers. Dialing 0 to reach an operator says its not a valid extension. Dialing sales or any other extension puts you at the general voice mailbox. You can’t buy products through their website. There is no 800 number and I haven’t received any replies to my emails.
It’s hard to prove a company is or isn’t real when you can’t even get in touch with them.
I think they are 100% bogus… I just had a coworker in Shenzhen drive past their “China office” There is no Hop On.
It’s Shenzhen Jiaoda Sci&tech Industrial Co.,Ltd at that address…
Their “Irvine” address is a stip mall storefront…
One more…
There newest press release says the have a Spanish Distributor but fail to say who it is. Sales 101 – if you are going to talk about a new disti, you fricking tell people who it is.
These guys are buying time and trying to bilk people. Is anyone in the blogshere awake here??
http://hop-on.com/pr_101408.html