EE to launch a £99 4G phone in April

EE claims to have brought to market the UK's cheapest 4G smartphone, as it prepares to roll-out its range of entry-level pay monthly plans for business users.

The EE-branded Android device has been dubbed Kestrel and will be available to buy from the end of April for just 99.99 as part of a 4G Pay-As-You-Go plan, or for free on 4G price plans for 13.99 a month.

The device will feature a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, a 4.5in gHD display, and HD voice compatibility.

EE, which was the first operator to launch a 4G network in the UK and has also aunched an array of 24-month plans that offer consumers access to either a free 4G handset, 500MB of data and a set minutes and text allowance for 13.99 a month.

Furthermore, it has introduced a series of SMB-focused 4G pay monthly plans ranging from 17 to 35 a month, which includes unlimited calls, texts, and 3GB of 4G data.

Its newly-introduced Business Extra plans offer unlimited calls, texts and up to 36GB of double speed 4G data as standard, as well as 180 minutes of international calls.

Pippa Dunn, CMO for consumer at EE, said the company, which has previously come under fire for the high cost of its 4G plans, was intent on making the superfast network more affordable for all.

"By introducing the UK's lowest price 4G smartphone, and great value entry-level plans, even more customers will now have the ability to access the UK's most advanced 4G network and reap the benefits it offers," she claimed.