Today, at the ongoing Mobile World Conference at Barcelona, Telecoms operator, Orange puts the mobile internet within reach of millions more people with the launch of a new digital offer across Africa and the Middle East with the launch of their new Firefox OS smartphone, The Orange Klif. The digital offer starts from under US$40 (N8,000), inclusive of a smartphone, data, voice and text bundle, setting a new benchmark in price that may become a major catalyst for smartphone and data adoption across the region.
The 3G Firefox OS smartphone is exclusive to Orange and will be available from the second quarter of 2015 in thirteen of Orange’s markets in the region, including, but not limited to, Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon, Botswana, Madagascar, Mali, The Ivory Coast, Jordan, Niger, Kenya, Mauritius and Vanuatu.
Prior to this, Orange had witnessed a doubling of smartphone sales in 2014, representing a 35 percent slice of total handset sales. And since launching its first smartphone in the region in 2013, Orange has sold more than a million smartphones to date. Orange has also experienced a burgeoning demand for data that has seen a 44% year-on-year rise in mobile data revenues in the last quarter of 2014.
Yves Maitre, Executive Vice President of Connected Objects and Partnerships, Orange highlighted the different advantages of the new 3G Firefox OS smartphone:
Affordable and predictable data costs
The launch signals a new type of offer in the market that is typically characterized by pay-as-you-go, offering predictability of data costs through an all-inclusive tariff at a price that sets a new benchmark. Customers seeking to upgrade from 2G feature phones to 3G smartphones can enjoy the benefits of multimedia and online usage with no hidden surprises. Depending on the market, a typical data bundle will be up to 500mb per month for six months, with the opportunity to top-up when reaching the end of the bundle.
Compelling content and services
The smartphone will also provide access to a range of compelling content, including established Orange services such as Star Africa, the entertainment portal, Orange Football Club as well as partner services like Dailymotion, the video sharing service. All-important local content, for example, the popular sports portal, Ndamli, in Senegal and Anghami, a music catalogue service providing access to millions of Arabic and international songs will be readily available. Additionally, customers will have access to the burgeoning Firefox Marketplace, providing access to thousands of apps.
The Orange Klif features the latest Firefox OS, ample screen size with its 3.5” HVGA screen, a 2 mega pixel camera and 1300mAh battery. Again, we wouldn't mind this offer in Nigeria. Would you?
