Smartphone Mobile Apps Finally Make Sense in East Africa

For a long time in East Africa, feature phones have been very popular with consumers. However, the tide is changing in favor of smart phones. This is as a result of a proliferation of cheap Android smart phones some of which are just as affordable as feature phones. The products in question are emanating from the Eastern markets (China and India).

 The Time to Deploy Local Smartphone Mobile Apps in East Africa Is Now

1.)    According to 2013 Informa Telecoms data, Smart phone connections in Kenya stands at 4.33 million and in Uganda it stands at 730,000.

2.)    Smartphone penetration of Kenya stands at 12%.

3.)    Smartphone ad impressions in East Africa stand at 13.1% as at 2013, representing an increase of 3.1%. On the other hand, impressions for feature phones have dropped by 2.7% while that of tablet phones have increased by 0.4%.

The Most Compelling Case for Smartphone Apps for East Africa

According to Stat Counter data, which is an aggregate of a sample exceeding 15 billion page views each month from over 3 million websites on Stat Counter network, there are as many Android smart phones as feature phones, accessing Stat Counter websites.  Nokia Symbian OS of Nokia feature phones is still the most popular OS for mobile traffic in East Africa. However, Android OS is following closely.

Yolo- Intel Smartphone for East African Market

Yolo is a low-cost Android Smartphone for the East African market. 

Yolo Smartphone series is fitted with Medfield- an Intel processor that is usually used on smart phones and tablets.

Phone’s capabilities

Because of the processor it has, it is suitable for running multiple applications and also for the purpose of mobile browsing. 

1.) Fast web browsing

2.) Super Responsive Apps

3.) Effortless multitasking

Ideal For

• Yolo is ideal for first time Smartphone users who are graduating from using feature phones.

• It is also ideal for cost-conscious East African Smartphone buyers who are not ready to sacrifice user experience or device performance over cost.

Intel is interested in making a real push in Emerging markets found in Asia and Africa. Yolo is one of the phone makes that is being used to penetrate these markets.

  

Smartphone Usage to Nearly Double In East Africa

Nearly 50% of East African consumers intend to buy smart phones by the end of 2015. This fact will raise Smartphone penetration to a whole new level. 

East Africa will host one of the largest mobile phone populations in the world, in coming years. Most east Africans use their smart phones to access social networks.

Applications downloaded

East Africans who own smart phones tend to download applications to their handsets. Android users in this region of the world are averaging 25 applications per person. On the other hand, the average for the case of IOS- powered handsets is 15 applications per person.

Time East Africans spend on their smart phones

East Africans who own smart phones spend a quarter of their on their Smartphone gadgets, updating posts on Facebook.

Tablet Computer Penetration in East Africa

Tablet computer penetration rate that have been witnessed in the western world are set to be replicated in East Africa by the end of 2015. 

A good percentage of financial endowed East Africans will soon begin substituting their PCs and net books with tablets.

Complementary products

Tablets and smart phones are complementary products. (They are best owned together.) Therefore, East Africans who have tablets are most likely to also possess smart phones.

Effect of the Growing East African Middle Class

The higher middle class is growing very fast in East Africa. This directly means that the demand for the finer things of life is increasing with every passing day. This is the reason why East Africa is one of the ripe markets for tablet computers.

East Africa’s Super Consumers

The attractive niche of East Africa’s super consumers (growing middle class), can easily be reached using high engagement screen (tablet computers.)

Intel’s Line of Mobile Devices Launched in East Africa

The American multinational semiconductor chip-maker is eying the regional East African market with mobile devices.

Why Intel is Setting Tent in East Africa

Like many other American multinationals, this firm has found the growing middle class of the region worth harnessing.

Also creativity of the regional mobile apps scene has made Intel to be attracted to the region.

Intel has implemented a number of strategies geared towards getting a bigger slice of East Africa’s Smartphone market.

Nairobi Is the Point Of Entry to East Africa

Africa headquarters of Intel are found in Nairobi, Kenya. This American multinational is set to move to other African countries in a matter of years.