PepsiCo Inc., the maker of the popular carbonated beverage Pepsi, will be launching its first smartphone soon. After several speculations surfaced online about a Pepsi-made handset, the company finally confirmed to Reuters that it will indeed be making a mobile device, but declined to disclose further details. The upcoming Android-powered model is rumored to be called "Pepsi P1."
The soda company's statement reads, "We are pleased to share that Pepsi is working with a licensing partner to bring a line of mobile phones and accessories to market in China in the next few months. Available in China only, this effort is similar to recent globally licensed Pepsi products which include apparel and accessories."
It seems that the device will only be positioned to market the company's product range. "Pepsi has no plans to get into the mobile phone manufacturing business, but we are committed to engage with consumers in innovative ways to grow our brand. We'll share more news as it becomes available."
Nevertheless, it still does not rule out the possibility that another device manufacturer will partner with Pepsi to produce the P1 or the soda maker itself will design and manufacture the device.
Pepsi is not the first company to venture into relatively unknown territory. Construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar and guitar amplifier maker Marshall have both launched their own mobile devices in the past. Like these two companies, it looks like Pepsi intends to rely heavily on brand recall instead of superior specifications.
According to a leaked photo (see below) and specs list spotted by tech site MobiPicker, the upcoming Pepsi P1 handset will most likely be a mid-range smartphone. At around $205, it will feature a 5.5-inch display with HD (1,920x1,080 ) resolution. A Mediatek MT6592 chipset clocked at 1.7GHz is reportedly fitted within, coupled with 2GB RAM. The built-in storage is not mentioned but at that price range, it will probably be packed with 16GB.
The phone will be run by Google's Android 5.1 Lollipop OS and powered by a 3,000mAh battery. It will sport a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera combo. A fingerprint scanner is also said to be furnished onto the device's backside, just below the camera. Android followers may soon know more about the Pepsi P1 smartphone as it will be unveiled on October 20, according to Chinese sources.
