Pepsi might be making a smartphone for China
Sssshhhh… the secret is out. Drinks company Pepsi is apparently making a smartphone for sale in the Chinese market, according to leaked images on a Chinese social media network. The phone, named the Pepsi P1, could apparently have a 5.5-inch 1080p screen, a 13 megapixel camera and 2GB of RAM.
A smartphone
The rumours of the phone's release began to swirl after a verified account called 'Pepsi Phone' appeared on Chinese social media site Weibo.
Chinese social media site Weibo
It is not known whether Pepsi designed the phone itself, or whether it used the services of an established phone manufacturer - although the latter option is more likely, given Pepsi's lack of expertise in making phones.
Images of the phone show the distinctive red, white and blue Pepsi logo adorning the home screen, with another miniature logo on the back of the device.
The distinctive red, white and blue Pepsi logo
It could be the case that the Weibo account is simply for a new Pepsi app and the company has no intention of making a phone - but it wouldn't be the first time big companies dipped their toes into the phone market.
Headquarters of Pepsi-Cola Venezuela
Kodak, for example, released its simple IM5 phone in the Netherlands in June, marketing itself as an easy-to-use, stripped-down smartphone with a decent camera and low price tag.
A Kodak disposable camera - the company released its simple IM5 phone in the Netherlands in June
Sticking their logo on a mid-range Android phone produced by someone else could well turn into a good promotional tool for Pepsi, but we'll have to see whether it pays off (or whether it's released at all). The phone's impressive performance specs and low price (believed to be around $280) could make it an unlikely hit with Chinese consumers.
(All images - credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)
