The Kickstarter campaign for Nextbit's cloud-based smartphone opened in a big way, as the goal for the 30-day campaign was reached on the first day.
The startup company, which is run by former executives from HTC and Google, put up the Kickstarter page for the Robin, its cloud-based smartphone, with a goal of raising $500,000.
Users showed massive support for the device, with Nextbit stating that the goal was reached in less than half a day.
"We poured our hearts and souls into this project, but because we kept everything under wraps, we really had no idea what the public reaction would be like," said Nextbit CEO and co-founder Tom Moss in an email to CNET.
Before Nextbit decided to develop a smartphone, its cloud technology was licensed for Japan-based NTT Docomo's smartphones, with the company also working with Cyanogen to add the technology to its operating system.
According to the Robin's Kickstarter campaign page, the device was made because Nextbit believes in a cloud-first future. Robin has the cloud integrated into its Android operating system, which would be taken advantage of by its optimized and perfectly tuned hardware.
The Robin will be able to expand its storage online, which will provide users with as much space as they need when they need it. The Robin will have 32GB of internal storage and up to 100GB of cloud storage.
"By tapping the unlimited potential of the cloud, Robin delivers beyond its specs," Nextbit wrote.
The Robin will intelligently adapt according to the storage needs of its user, leading to automatic optimizations on the device's space when it is needed. Robin learns the apps that owners use and the space needed, offloading items that are not often accessed onto the cloud.
The device will also back up the user's apps and multimedia whenever it is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and a power source, though this setting can be changed. If the user would want the apps or pictures and videos back into the smartphone, they can have that done with a single tap.
The smartphone's hardware is no slouch as well, as it is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM. The Robin has a 5.2-inch screen, with a 13MP rear-facing camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. The device also features a fingerprint sensor and is NFC-capable.
The smartphone will ship with the recently revealed Android 6.0 Marshmallow, with the expected delivery for the units of Kickstarter backers on February next year.
As the initial goal was already reached, Nextbit revealed that if it successfully reaches its first stretch goal of raising $1,000,000, the Robin will ship with quick chargers for every order.
