Safaricom goes smart with Android

The Huawei U8220 weighs the same as an iPhone 3GS, features a 3.5 inch TFT Capacitive Touch-screen and has a 3.2 mega pixel camera.

In a shift from the BlackBerry models currently in the market, Huawei devices allow free access to email features, eliminating another cost centre that has weighed down the BlackBerry’s popularity.

Market watchers say pricing remains a key determinant of consumers’ buying decisions in a developing market such as Kenya’s and the presence of a cheaper version of any good or service tends to upset the demand and supply dynamics in a way that supports or hurts the sales.

Speaking during the launch, the Information and Communication PS, Mr Bitange Ndemo, challenged mobile service providers to pass on cost savings to consumers.

“We are in the process of developing local digital content that will encourage more Kenyans to access the internet but this can only be achieved if service providers lower the internet costs to make it affordable to the average Kenyan,” he said.