OnePlus One smartphone is now on sale to everyone, but only on Tuesdays

OnePlus has made a lot of headlines over the past year for its first product, the OnePlus One smartphone, a premium-spec Android device that comes in at an affordable $299/$349 (16GB/64GB). The only problem is, it hasn’t been the easiest of devices to get a hold of, given the invite-only system it has hitherto operated — until now, that is.

Although OnePlus has previously removed its invite system for short windows of opportunity, the Chinese smartphone company has now revealed that it’s making moves to expand the availability of the device by opening up its sales to anyone — but only on Tuesdays.

Although the company has faced criticism in some quarters for trying to generate buzz and hype by limiting availability of the phone, OnePlus has argued that its invite-based system is in place to ensure its supply can keep up with orders.

However, by opening up orders for a 24-hour period only, starting at midnight PST, it may create a concentrated surge in orders that it will struggle to fulfill. At any rate, all successful buyers will receive invites that can be passed on to buddies (or sold on eBay, which is quite prevalent).

Today’s news could also be partly designed to generate buzz ahead of its “big reveal” later this week, when OnePlus is expected to officially unveil its new OxygenOS, a variant of Google’s Android Lollipop OS, to replace its existing CyanogenMod 11S Android fork.