Capturing the individual spirit...

In a world full of commercial noise, we hope to provide greater access to personal creativity through affordable technology.

Specs

• Region: US Only (for now)
  

• Size: 134 x 68 x 11.8mm

• Display: 4.5 inch LCD, 720x1280 HD resolution

• CPU: Samsung Quadcore (Exynos 4412)

• Memory: 16GB internal, 1GB RAM

• Network: HSPA+/WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), GSM (850/900/1800/1900MHz) - carriers include AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.

• OS: Stock Android ICS with planned upgrade to Jellybean

• Camera: 8.0MP autofocus and back-illuminated rear-facing, 0.3MP front-facing

• Battery: 2050mAh

High quality at an affordable price

The V1SION outperforms leading phones and tablets and comes at a fraction of their prices. This isn't suprising seeing as we have the smartest engineers and designers and use the same manufacturers as the big companies. We deliver high quality at a truly affordable price. 

This is what we at Sion want to tell the world. Smartphones shouldn’t be expensive! These big companies are taking advantage of consumers all around the world by taking a huge margin on these phones! This is why we created the revolutionary crowdfunding business model. We want the world to know that there are better and more affordable options for smartphones. The more people that support us and use the V1SION, the cheaper and better we can make our phones.

Consumer Empowerment

Unhappy with the limited brand selection and multi-year commitments to expensive carrier contracts for so-called "subsidized" devices, we embarked on a journey to disrupt the smartphone industry by providing consumers with an unlocked, high-end and low-cost smartphone. We were able to cram as much high-tech goodies into our beautifully designed smartphone as the "big brands", but we're pricing it at a fraction of their prices. 

The V1SION: made for the average consumer, by the average consumer.

Unlocking Your Freedom

The Sion V1SION is a fully-unlocked device, which means you no longer have to commit to long carrier contracts. You have the freedom to switch carriers and plans without having to worry about incurring steep penalties. 

Our Experiment

As the cost of staying connected continues to rise, we, at Sion, want to offer consumers a more affordable alternative to what's available on the market without having to forgo quality, design and performance. 

To highlight our purpose of disrupting the smartphone industry, we would like to propose a revolutionary experiment:

As our manufacturing cost per unit falls due to increased demand and scale, we will incrementally lower the retail price of the phone.  

501-1500 units: $349

1501-3000 units: $329

3001-5000 units: $309

5001-10,000 units: $299

>10,000 units: TBA

Our V1SION

...is unique. You won't find it anywhere else in the world.

Elegantly Sophisticated

The Sion V1SION is a beautiful device utilizing the latest manufacturing processes and technologies. The sleek unibody shell is made in the same electroplating process used on the Samsung Galaxy SIII, and the imposing 4.5 inch screen uses none other than Gorilla Glass. For the media lovers out there, we made sure we included a 720P HD display at 326 pixels per inch (same as iPhone 5's Retina display). The V1SION will be running stock Android ICS, with a planned update to Jellybean.

Ringflash

We are also introducing ring flash technology, commonly found in the photography industry, built directly into our phone. Ring flash allows for better distribution of light relative to the camera sensor compared to traditional phone flashes, which deliver light from a single direction. In macro photography, a ring flash will eliminate unwanted background shadows. Aside from pure practicality, the ring flash also looks awesome. It gives the design symmetry and makes a bold and unique statement.

Stock Android

Yes, we're running stock! No frills, just Android. The V1SION will ship with Android ICS, but you will be upgraded to Jellybean in no time!

Quality by Design

In developing the Sion V1SION, not only did we pay close attention to aesthetic detail, but more importantly, to end-user quality. We chose to work with one of the largest global electronics manufacturers to ensure lasting product quality. Our manufacturer has an extensive list of global technology customers including Toshiba, HP, and Apple.

Use of Funds

Over the past few months, we have been working very closely with our manufacturing partner to uniquely design and develop the Sion V1SION. We now have a production-ready prototype, and need your support. Your contributions will go towards:

• FCC certifications
• Manufacturing costs
• Customer support

Spread the Word

As a small startup with big dreams to change the world, the main obstacle is market awareness (and of course, capital). If you are excited about this project and our experiment, please help us spread the word. Even if you're still currently in a two-year contract and not yet in the market for a new phone, please share with your friends. We are fully committed to continuing this experiment as a long-term business model, giving you an awesome option in the future.

FAQ

Why is this campaign US only?

When it comes to telecommunication hardware (mobile phones), most countries have their own regulatory bodies that must approve each product. This approval process is costly, and as a small startup, we can only afford to enter one country at a time. Since we're based in the US, it only makes sense we start here.

Also, if we start selling internationally, it will be very hard to provide sufficient customer support across different regions and languages.

If you would like to see the V1SION in your country, please let us know. If we receive enough interest to provide a dedicated regional support team, we will expand accordingly.

Why is there sales tax?

Every Indiegogo campaign that gives contributors a product or service as a perk will be subject to regional tax laws. Most perks already include this tax bundled within the price of the product or service. Why are we taking sales tax separately? Couple of reasons:

1. Regional sales tax differs substantially, and because we make so little on each phone, we can't bundle the cost of the tax in our price and hope it's enough to cover the overall cost of delivering the phone.
2. We want to provide our potential-contributors with a clear comparison between our phone's pre-tax price versus other devices on the market. 

How much will I have to pay for sales tax, and when do I pay?

Since we're based in California, we will collect sales tax on devices shipped to a California address. How much you pay for sales tax varies depending on where you live. We will let you know what your tax is and collect it before we ship the phone.

Remember, sales tax is calculated as a percentage of the final price - not necessarily what you contribute up-front. Unless of course you're receiving a perk with a guaranteed price.

Is $299 the floor price?

Nope! Once we approach 10,000 units, we will renegotiate prices with our manufacturer and suppliers for a better price.