Re-entry of French firm stirs up battle for smartphone market

By Lillian Kiarie

Nairobi, Kenya: Competition in the smartphone market has heightened with the re-entrance of a French mobile phone manufacturer targeting the youth and middle-income earners in Kenya.  Infinix Mobility, previously dubbed as Sagem Wireless, in partnership with Safaricom has introduced a sleek high-end smartphone in its retail outlets countrywide.

The Alpha Marvel, retailing at Sh29,999 comes with 500MB worth of data upon purchase and is targeting the youth going by its gaming and social media features.

This happens as other smartphone makers such as Nokia, Samsung and Huawei battle to control the Kenyan market with constant introductions of new gadget and reducing prices.

Infinix Mobility business Director, Jean Sebastien Coste, was optimistic that Kenyans will embrace the latest range of consumer-focused smartphones in Kenya.“This is a digitally innovative market, with respect to mobile and internet solutions and we expect that our foray into the Kenyan market, with an appetite for quality smartphones, will yield high returns. In addition, our commitment to challenging the norm in form factor inspired us to design the Alpha Marvel in France,” Coste said.

He said Infinix’s partnership with Safaricom, the leading mobile service provider in Kenya, is timely and strategic in an environment that is in need of variety in smartphone offerings. “Our phones are aimed at redefining what style-conscious Kenyans can get from a smartphone and will also provide users with a choice of the ultimate mobile devices that suite their needs,” he said. 

Kenya is among the leading market for smartphones in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 100, 000 smartphones sales in the Kenyan market each month.

 Jannet Atika, Safaricom Head of Retail Sales, said that the new partnership will ensure that Kenyans have the best smartphones just as they are developed.