Huawei phones a big hit in Kenya

Want China Times, Xinhua 2015-03-08

Huawei's company logo. (File photo/CNS)

At a mobile phone shop along Moi Avenue in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, dozens of customers queued patiently at the counter waiting to be served. Most of them were to buy a mobile phone.

Among the various kinds of mobile phone displayed here, Huawei was among the phone of choice, according to the shop. "For US$220, you can buy a Huawei Honor T1 or Huawei Ascend G628," said an attendant at the shop.

Huawei's mobile phones sell for US$66-$680 in Kenya.

The phone's prominent features include a wide screen (six inches) and cameras, said the attendant.

Huawei's mobile phones have been a hit with Kenyans ever since they were introduced into the East African nation in 2010. They were the best seller in 2011, with Huawei IDEOS, sold for US$100, taking the crown, according to figures from Safaricom, a leading mobile network operator in Kenya.

The Chinese company says over 100,000 mobile phones were sold in a few months that year.

In addition, Huawei provides services in nearly 20 countries in the Sub-Sahara Africa region while ZTE, another Chinese telecom service supplier, provides at least 25 countries in the region with such services.

Services provided by the two companies take up half of the total market in some countries in the region, according to statistics from the two suppliers.

The phones have become popular because they are affordable for most Kenyans and provide premium features including touch screen, ample storage capacity and 3G Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity for up to eight devices.

"I once used mobile phones of some other brands, but now I've fallen in love with my Huawei," said Mercy Otieno, a communication assistant at a local NGO.

Otieno owns the Huawei Ascend G628 that she bought for US$274 about two years ago.

One of the things she likes about it is the phone functions as her internet. "I can easily connect and share the internet on other devices including other mobile phones. Furthermore, Huawei's screen is tactile compared to others, and it does not break easily. The battery lasts long. And you can clearly see what's displayed on screen even in the sun," said Otieno.

The NGO worker uses the phone to do many things, including taking photos and posting on social media sites.

"My mobile phone has a storage capacity of 8 gigabytes. That is huge compared with some other brands I know which have up to 4 GB. With 8 GB, I save as many things as I wish without worrying about the memory filling up," she said.

According to Huawei, the company is dedicated to innovating according to the needs of their customers.