Crosscall, a French mobile phone and ruggedised mobile technology company, has made its debut in the South African market with the launch of five new smartphones.
The Aix-en-Provence-headquartered company was founded by CEO Cyril Vidal in 2009, and is pursuing its international expansion with a presence in 15 countries across the globe, and 20 000 points of sale.
The brand specialises in waterproof, durable and autonomous mobile phones, which it says are perfectly adapted to the hostile and unpredictable environments encountered by athletes and professionals in various fields. It also offers a range of high-performance accessories.
The company says SA’s mature mobile market, which is driven by technology, together with increasing 4G and Internet of things capabilities, provides a steady market for Crosscall to enable its business development goals in Africa.
SA, according to the company, also has some of the best adventure sports in the world, making its offerings the perfect fit for local outdoor enthusiasts.
Vidal, who is also president of Crosscall, explains: "Our excellent sales performance confirms our commitment to offering unique products that are durable and reliable. New continents are growth and profit drivers for Crosscall. We have created a segment that is proving to be increasingly dynamic because it corresponds with consumer and business design usage."
The brand says it has seen profit rise from EUR51.2 million (R812 million) to EUR71.6 million (R1.1 billion) globally. This 40% rise in earnings within the space of a year proves Crosscall’s ability to disrupt the international telecommunications markets, it notes.
Julien Fouriot, sales director for Africa, adds: "Crosscall has taken steps to ensure its success in each market they enter. Aside from above-board products that are rigorously tested before hitting the shelves, Crosscall focuses on the B2B market, actively seeking out organisations that need tougher cellphones. Some of these industries include farming, security, mining and civil engineering.”
While rugged smartphones are still a relatively niche segment of the phone market, local demand is on the increase. Another rugged phone-maker that recently launched in the local market is Energizer, which introduced its flagship range, the HardCase H550S, this week.
SA, being the second-largest market in Africa, after Nigeria, provides Crosscall with an excellent launch platform because of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, which regulates the market, notes the company.
"SA is a well-known destination for outdoor and sporting enthusiasts, from the Cape Argus to the Comrades Marathon. It also is a country full of B2B businesses that need robust devices. Crosscall wants to provide mobiles that fit seamlessly into both the professional and outdoor enthusiast’s lifestyle,” says Fouriot.
Apart from a variety of accessories, Crosscall mobile devices available locally include: Shark-X3, which has the ability to float on water; the Trekker-M1core, ideal for any outdoor enthusiast who still needs the functionality of a mobile phone, and the Action- X3, which features a longer battery life.
The company also introduced the Core-X3, a waterproof device with an X-Link connector that connects the user to other accessories, and the Trekker-X4, Crosscall’s flagship device which is suitable for the extreme outdoor enthusiast. The device features an action camera that allows users to share quality footage live to their preferred online multimedia platforms.
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