Mobile phones: Counterfeit menace to persist

Nokia is one of the companies that has appreciated the Kenyans need for business phones. It has intergrated features such as the QWERTY keypad, instant messaging and push emails capability.

In addition to these, users want to have entertainment, mp3/mp4 compatibility, social network chat services and good camera quality. Nokia has captured this in the production of the C3/X2 model.

Alcatel has also done the same with the OT 800 series, which come with multicolored casing making it very attractive and trendy.

The other major functionality that the conventional handset manufacturers have taken into consideration is the need for multiple sim cards in each handset, Samsung have done better than the other manufacturers in this field. The have a wide range of dual sim handsets that go for different price ranges attracting the low end market that appeals to the low income earners.

Nokia have also managed to capture this market…they have produced a dual sim card handset known as ‘Dabo dabo’.

Phone manufacturers from Asia are also battling to capture the booming handset market in Kenya. However the still have to fight the enigma of being associated with counterfeits.

Ken Miseda is a Masters Student in Communication Studies at the University of Nairobi.