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ZTE finally admits failure, cancels "Project CSX" Kickstarter campaign

By Kaloyan C.

Updated: Feb 20, 2017, 9:16 AM

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ZTE finally admits failure, cancels "Project CSX" Kickstarter campaign

A couple of weeks after the initial pledge to do so, ZTE has finally pulled their catastrophic Kickstarter campaign for the so-called "Project CSX", also known as ZTE Hawkeye, which was supposed to be the ultimate crowdsourced phone, but turned out to be a bland mid-ranger with a couple of quirky features. At the end of the campaign, ZTE had only raised $36,245 out of its $500,000 goal.

A ZTE user poll for a possible future device ranked a self-adhesive back and an eye-tracking camera as the top features users wanted from a phone. However, while users expected a flagship equipped with these features, ZTE delivered a smartphone with mediocre specs, disappointing many. Following a public outcry, the company publicly apologized, but also left open the possibility of a second try at a crowdfunded device. On the Kickstarter page, the company wrote:

Based on the feedback we’ve received on both Kickstarter and our own Z-Community forum, we’ve decided to phase out this campaign; however, this doesn’t mean the project is over. We are reevaluating the device for the winning Project CSX idea – an eye-tracking feature with self adhesive backing – and it will be implemented based on your feedback.

As for the immediate future, ZTE plans on unveiling the world's first gigabit phone at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and it also has an Android Wear 2.0-powered smartwatch in the works.

source: Kickstarter via TechCrunch

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