Microsoft and Huawei announce 4Afrika, a handset with an African heart

Huawei and Microsoft have had an odd relationship. It first looked like Microsoft was trying to distance themselves from the Chinese OEM due to political factors back in mid-Oct. It was believed they'd be ready for the Windows Telephone 8 launch, just instead the visitor pushed back the reveal of their Arise W1 handset to CES 2022. Now, the two are cozying and partnering up for a joint launch of a handset in Africa – the Huawei 4Afrika.

At showtime glance the 4Afrika looks to be an Ascend W1 with a 4Afrika logo on the back. And to exist honest, that's exactly what information technology is, a variant of the Ascend W1. There aren't many differences between the two, the only i we could spot was the bombardment. The 4Afrika packs a 1730 mAh battery compared to 1950 mAh in the Ascend W1. Near likely a cost saving feature for emerging markets.

And so what is with the 4Afrika branding? Turns out Microsoft has a new initiative for the African continent called, you guessed it – 4Afrika. The goal is to leverage technology to actively engage Africa'southward economic development and to amend its global competitiveness. Microsoft hopes to use both hardware and software to push forward with its calendar. Devices like the Huawei 4Afrika and Nokia Lumia 510 and 620 are the hardware push, while the 4Afrika initiative itself volition develop apps and services specific to that region. The Huawei 4Afrika earns the branding by bundling some of those apps on the device itself – of course you tin can ever uninstall them, but it's a dainty feature for the device. Here is a squeamish little quote from the announcement article summing it up:

"The telephone as well comes preloaded with custom apps created by African developers for African consumers and feature a market place-specific store inside the larger Windows Phone Store for downloading locally-relevant apps and content."

Affordable hardware with custom software is a winning combination to sway buyers abroad from feature phones on the continent, which control nigh ninety% of the mobile market. Microsoft and its partners (like Huawei and Nokia) run into huge potential for growth in those numbers. Windows Phone devices that are cheap have e'er provided a minimum level of adequate performance. It's that fact that makes us believe the platform tin give Android a expert fight for marketshare in emerging markets.

No discussion on price for the Huawei 4Afrika, but we expect information technology to be cheaper than the $258 asking cost of the bigger battery Ascend W1. You tin await the Windows Telephone 8 device subsequently this calendar month in Angola, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kingdom of morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. A multifariousness of colors volition be available to consumers: blackness, red, white, and blue - the usual suspects nosotros saw back at CES.

What do y'all remember of the Huawei 4Afrika handset and the initiative itself?

Source: Windows Phone blog, 4Afrika

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