Tag Archive for 'handset'

Huawei’s low-cost and high-end IDEOS Android handset is what Africa needs.

Published on September 5, 2010 in Uncategorized. 17 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

In more Android news this weekend, it has just come to my attention that Huawei has launched a low-cost Android handset this past week at the IFA event in Berlin, Germany. The interesting thing about this handset is that its running Android version 2.2 (also known as Froyo) which is the latest version of the mobile operating system.

In addition, the IDEOS handset is pretty well featured in terms of functionality making it rival far more expensive Android handsets. The most interesting thing about this handset is that its expected to retail for between US$ 100.00 to US$ 200.00 without a contract to an operator. Considering that Huawei has already launched two Android handsets in Kenya recently, we could probably expect this model to make it to Africa in the next few months or so (we hope?).

Another important point about the new Huawei Android IDEOS handset is that its been developed in conjunction with Google. This means that its been built to pretty high standards that can be expected from the likes of Google. Its feature packed with a 2.8 inch QVGA capacitive screen, supports 7.2 Mbps HSPDA for 3G, and can create a mobile WIFI hotspot for up to 8 devices which would be ideal for rural or SOHO (Small Office Home Office) Internet connectivity in Africa.

I am not sure if this is possible but Google are holding their 3 day G-Kenya event this week in Nairobi at Strathmore University and I am willing to bet that they will announce the IDEOS as a key handset for Android growth in Kenya and the broader Africa region. I have already been asked to attend a round table session at G-Kenya tomorrow (Monday) as Google are expected to make a big media announcement and the IDEOS could be it.

Its also almost prescient that Huawei have launched the IDEOS at a price that would translate to Kes. 8,000.00 to Kes, 16,000.00 at retail in Kenya. This is prescient because Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph had intimated that he would like to see a high-end smartphone in Kenya for no more than Kes. 15,000.00 at retail soon during the recent Huawei event to launch its Android handsets in July 2010. It seems possible that the IDEOS could be just that smartphone for Africa.

Safaricom and Sony Ericsson bring Xperia X10 Androids to Kenya.

Published on September 3, 2010 in Uncategorized. 8 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Its been a hectic two weeks so haven’t had much time to blog. Since Nairobi’s legendary traffic awaits me as does the rain this Friday evening, I thought I would do a quick post some news that came my way today. It seems that the android tsunami is definitely gaining momentum in Kenya since Safaricom and Sony Ericsson have launched two android models in the market this week.

The handsets are both from the Xperia line and are the X10 mini and the X10 mini pro. The X10 mini is retailing for Kes. 24,999.00 and the X10 mini pro is retailing for Kes. 27,999.00. The handsets will be sold exclusively via Safaricom’s shops.

Sony Ericsson is the second company to bring android handsets to Kenya with Safaricom after Huawei launched two models in July 2010 as reported on this blog.

The X10 mini and X10 mini pro have the following specifications:

  • Screen: 240 x 320 pixels (QVGA) and 6,777,216 color TFT
  • Memory: MicroSD™ support (up to 16 GB) and Phone memory of 128MB (actual free memory may vary due to phone pre-configuration)
  • Networks: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS/HSPA 900/2100, UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100
  • Sizes: 83.0 x 50.0 x 16.0 mm, 3.3 x 2.0 x 0.6 inches
  • Weight: 88.0 gr/ 3.1 oz

Samsung’s “Bada” Wave Mobile Handset coming to Kenya in August 2010.

Published on July 23, 2010 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

The Samsung Wave

As noted in an earlier post on this blog today, I am in Johannesburg (South Africa) following the Samsung Africa Forum 2010. At the event, I received reliable information that Samsung will be launching its Wave mobile handset in Kenya sometime in August 2010 in conjunction with Safaricom, the leading mobile network in Kenya. The Samsung Wave is the first mobile handset to be released on Samsung’s new, open mobile platform, Bada. Bada allows mobile users to simply and easily download apps from SamsungApps, an integrated application store accessible from the device and online. SamsungApps include games, e-books, utility services and health and lifestyle applications.

The full touch Samsung Wave has a Super AMOLED 3.3” display, which is brighter and less reflective than previous AMOLED displays and it is powered by a 1GHz processor. This offers users the best graphic performance available today. The fast-response display has a high resolution WVGA (800×400 pixels) at 400 candela brightness. Samsung’s latest TouchWiz 3.0 user interface on the Wave provides a tactile, intuitive user experience and includes iconic new features such as motion UI, smart unlock and customizable widget screen. This means that the TouchScreen user interface is responsive and intuitive.

Samsung Wave features The Social Hub – creating a center of social networking and messaging activity with push-based, “Always On” integrated messaging. SNS, IM and e-mail contact information is listed on the phone’s display alongside traditional contact email and phone number information.

The Wave’s high-speed CPU ensures swift, smooth application usage and multi-codec support for DivX and Xvid, making the device into a personal entertainment system. Finally, HD video decoding and recording capabilities make the Samsung Wave an outstanding device for capturing, sharing and viewing video.

I had a chance to use the Wave briefly at the Forum and the first thing that grabs your attention is the Super AMOLED display which is stunning in its visual quality being both crisp and sharp. Its also quite easy to use as far as the user interface is concerned and certainly represents a leap forward from the Samsung Jet which was launched in Kenya earlier this year. The Samsung Wave is already available in South Africa as of this writing so Kenya is one of the first entry markets for Africa. The specifications for the Samsung Wave are as follows:

Network
2.5G : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G: 900/2100 MHz

Display
3.3” WVGA (480×800) Super AMOLED with mDNIe

Camera
5.0 Megapixel AF camera w/ LED Flash
Touch AF
Face/Blink Detection, Lomo Shot, Vintage Shot, Beauty Shot,
Smile Shot, Panorama Shot, Geo-tagging, Photo Editor

Video
HD video playing & recording
5.1ch mobile theater
MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV,DivX, XviD
Video editor

Audio
Music Player with DNSe & SRS Sound Effect
Find Music, DISK UI
3.5mm ear jack
FM radio/ recording
100 hr playing time

Value-added Features
Integrated messaging (by Seven)
Samsung branded application store based on bada platform
TOUCHWIZ 3.0 w/integrated phonebook, voice & motion UI
Dolphin Browser 2.0 / one finger zoom
A-GPS, On/off board navigation (3D Map), LBS
SMS/ MMS/ Email/ Video Messaging/ Exchange ActiveSync
Accelerator Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Digital Compass
BPP, OPP, PictBridge (USB Printing)
Offline/ No SIM mode, voice command, RSS reader, communities, mobile widget

Connectivity
Bluetooth technology v 3.0
USB v2.0 (Full -Speed)
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Memory
2GB/8GB + microSD (Up to 32GB

Size
118 x 56 x 10.9mm

Battery
(Standard) Li-Ion, 1,500 mAh