This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
On November 12, 2019, Africell and KaiOS Technologies launched the afriphone, a 3G smart feature phone, in the Gambia and Sierra Leone, with plans to expand to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The afriphone features essential apps like WhatsApp, Google Assistant, Facebook, YouTube, and Google Maps, as well as Africell's customer care app. It also boasts smartphone-level features such as Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, and a hybrid dual-SIM slot with 512MB memory and 256MB RAM.
According to Ziad Dalloul, Africell Chairman and CEO, the afriphone is designed to bring valuable digital services and information to the markets Africell operates in at an affordable price. 'As a digital company, Africell provides a link between yesterday and tomorrow. Our network gives everyone the freedom to be and to do what they want.'
KaiOS, the operating system behind the afriphone, enables affordable smart feature phones that require limited memory while offering a rich user experience. KaiOS-enabled phones come with the KaiStore, an app store with over 200 essential apps from global and local content providers.
Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies, expressed excitement about the new device, stating, 'We’re excited for this brand new KaiOS-powered device from Africell, which will help us continue spreading mobile internet in sub-Saharan Africa.'
