OnePlus: Why Smartphone Start-Up Is Changing Its Invitation Policy

— -- Smartphone maker OnePlus is easing its invitation only policy to allow new customers the opportunity to get their hands on its devices.

Getting a hold of the company's flagship OnePlus One smartphone over the past year has required an invitation, leaving some would-be customers shut out of the exclusive club.

While the invitation system will still remain intact, the company said in a blog post today it will host invitation-free sales on its website every Tuesday.

"Although we have an active and supportive fanbase, a lot of people have interest in the One but have told us that it’s just too difficult to buy," the blog post said.

The Chinese company, which began at the end of 2013, has used the invite-only system not to establish exclusivity but to instead help keep costs down and pass the savings onto consumers.

"The overall amount of available invites has increased significantly, but we've also held pre-order and open sales events, allowing for purchases without the need for an invite," OnePlus said. "During these events, we have been collecting data and fine-tuning our production schedules."

Both the 16GB silk white OnePlus One model and the 64 GB sandstone black will be available without an invite every Tuesday. People who take advantage of the open opportunity will still be given invitations to send to friends, who can then buy a OnePlus device on any day of the week.