Cape Town <12 November 2019> – Africell, the leading African telecommunications operator, today announced the launch of their first 3G smart feature phone, afriphone, powered by KaiOS, the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones. The new device will be the first KaiOS-powered device in The Gambia and Sierra Leone, and will also be made available in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Designed with affordability and accessibility for customers in mind, afriphone features 3G connectivity and access to essential and popular apps like WhatsApp, Google Assistant, Facebook, YouTube, and Google Maps, as well as unique native content such as the Africell’s customer care app. Additionally, it includes other smartphone-level features such as Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, and offers a hybrid dual-SIM slot that supports two SIM cards with M512MB memory + 4GB RAM. It also boasts a powerful battery which enables extended hours of talk time.

Ziad Dalloul, Africell Chairman and CEO stated that :“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. People of all generations and from all walks of life can shine with the powerful tools Africell offers. We listen to the young generation, and we are committed to helping them shape the best future. Introducing this smart feature phone will help us bring valuable digital services and information to the markets we operate in at a price that people can afford.”

KaiOS enables a new category of affordable smart feature phones that require limited memory, while still offering a rich user experience. KaiOS-enabled phones come with the KaiStore, the only app store for feature phones, with over two hundred essential apps from global and local content providers. KaiOS is now the third largest mobile operating system worldwide, running on over 100 million devices shipped across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

“We’re excited for this brand new KaiOS-powered device from Africell, which will help us continue spreading mobile internet in sub-Saharan Africa”, said Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies. “The afriphone will have an immediate impact on people’s lives across the region, offering an inexpensive and convenient means of accessing the internet’s invaluable resources including education, banking, and healthcare for the first time. We are, and will be continuing our journey to enable a sustainable ecosystem by bringing in relevant apps and services that are designed to benefit people in emerging markets.”

About Africell

Africell is an African mobile technology company.

We provide fast, low-cost and reliable mobile network coverage and related value-added technology services to millions of individuals, communities and business in four vibrant African countries.  Africell is the market leading operator in Sierra Leone and The Gambia and is a vibrant challenger in The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Africell is a disruptor: keen to challenge inefficiencies, embrace fresh thinking and deliver innovative products and services which make a practical difference to people everyday.

Our corporate social responsibility and positive community impact, as well as our entrepreneurial spirit and transparent business activities, make Africell the ideal mobile network provider for Africa’s future. www.africell.com

About KaiOS Technologies

KaiOS Technologies powers an ecosystem of affordable digital products and services, and exists to empower people around the world through technology. Its flagship product, KaiOS, is the leading mobile operating system for smart feature phones with more than 100 million devices shipped in over 100 countries. Kai’s mission is to open up new possibilities for individuals, organizations, and societies by bringing mobile connectivity to the billions of people without internet in emerging markets, as well as providing those in established markets with an alternative to smartphones. KaiOS is based on HTML5 and other open web technologies. Devices running on the platform require limited memory, while still offering a rich user experience through access to apps like WhatsApp, Google Assistant, YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps, and Twitter.

Africell Media Contact

Toni El Khoury
tkhoury@africell.com
+961 1 966777

KaiOS Media Contact

Eletta   Leung/Sarah     Collins
eletta.leung@kaiostech.com / scollins@hoffman.com +1 408 286 2611