US Media: Trump's gold-plated phone begins shipping, priced at $499.

US experts have questioned the phone's American origins, pointing out that it closely resembles phones manufactured in China.

CNN report from May 14.

After nearly a year of collecting a $100 deposit for the Trump phone, and several days after updating its website to "conditional" delivery, the company announced that the gold-plated Trump phone will begin shipping this week.

Priced at $499, the Trump phone, officially named Trump Mobile T1, bears a striking resemblance to a Chinese-made smartphone retailing for under $200 at Walmart.

The smartphone features a smaller screen and less memory storage, which does not fully align with Trump Organization's initial promises.

However, the key Trump branding and golden appearance remain intact.

Forbes magazine noted that the phone’s pre-order terms have changed, stating that the company “does not guarantee production or availability of the device for purchase,” and that the deposit represents only a “conditional opportunity to buy.”

Yet subsequently, the company posted a series of announcements on Facebook:

"Users who pre-ordered the T1 phone will receive an update email—phones are beginning shipment this week!!!"

Trump Mobile stated that the phone was originally scheduled to ship in August last year, but delays occurred due to necessary steps required to bring this complex technology to market.

"The tech industry is far more difficult than some might imagine, as components must undergo quality assurance testing," CEO Pat O'Brien said in a statement to CNN. "Bringing an Android device to market often involves overcoming numerous hurdles."

The Android-powered smartphone was initially marketed as "Made in America."

Following skepticism from industry analysts regarding its American origin, the wording was revised; they noted that the phone’s specifications closely resemble those of smartphones produced by Chinese manufacturers.

This has left uncertainty about exactly which stages of manufacturing took place in the United States.

For example, Apple designs its phones in California but assembles them in countries like China and India using parts sourced from international suppliers.

Ryan Rees, Vice President of IDC's Global Device Tracking business group, previously told CNN that terms like "design" and "manufacture" are highly ambiguous.

Previously, the Trump phone claimed to be "Made in America," but this statement has since been removed from its website.

Todd Weaver, CEO of Purism—the only domestic smartphone manufacturer in the U.S.—said the phone is actually produced by a Chinese company.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865204543581387/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.