Cell C has released its first self-branded handset, which the company says will provide customers from all income groups the opportunity to get connected.
Following the smartphone boom, there is a rising demand for low-end handsets that can offer similar functionality. The Cell C F250 will retail for R499.
"Cell C is committed to providing affordable communications solutions to all South Africans. The launch of the Cell C F250 is in line with this commitment,” says Cell C executive head of marketing Simon Camerer.
“Accessing the Internet via a mobile phone is now a reality for people who could not afford a smartphone.”
The Cell C F250 has an MP3 player, Java applications and games, 2MP camera and video recorder, 15MB on-board memory and an integrated Web browser.
The browser also offers shortcuts to social media and networking sites like Facebook and YouTube.
“In addition to the handset, customers will receive 200MB of data, 50 on-net minutes and 100 SMSes once-off, when they activate their Cell C Welcomepack SIM card,” says Camerer.
“The additional benefits, such as the once-off 200MB data bundle, will provide customers with the perfect opportunity to experience the Internet and other exciting features.”
Faster data
Cell C says that, by providing products that are available to a much broader market segment, it wants to be the “possibilities provider” and “enhance lifestyles and improve livelihoods”.
The 2011 Mobility Research Project results released last month showed a surprising increase in mobile Internet usage in the South African mobile market. Statistics showed that 39% of urban South Africans and 27% of rural users are now browsing the Internet on their phones, and this number is expected to continue to rise.
While 8ta also offers a cheap branded handset manufactured by Huawei, its G2101 is not 3G compatible and does not have a camera. The handset retails at R99.
Vodacom is also expected to introduce a range of low-cost handsets sourced from Vodafone. This follows reports that Vodafone is set to launch three new cheap branded handsets in April, including the Vodafone 351 mobile Internet phone and the Vodafone 455 entry-level touch-screen phone.
The handsets are expected to be priced below R100 each, but this is yet to be confirmed.
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