Future Mobile Technology (FMT), the innovative South African tech company, is powering ahead with new products, new branches - in Johannesburg, London and Beijing - and new initiatives that will help to bridge South Africa's digital divide.
First on the agenda, though, is the launch of FMT's netsurfer DUAL in April, a tablet with a 'dual' sim facility that allows the user to insert a choice of two network providers into the device. Which sim they use will depend entirely on what they want or which networks are offering the best deals on data.
"Its advantages are that one sim can be used for personal use and the other for business, or one could be used for voice and the other for data. It also has two cameras, the first for Skype or video calls, and the second, at the back of the device, to take photos or home movies," says joint CEO of FMT, Graham Davies.
The netsurfer DUAL has a dual core 1.0ghz processor, one gigabyte of RAM and eight gigs built-in storage.
It also comes in "two flavours", Davies explains. One is an entry-level device that will retail at R1 999 and the second option is a 'pro' model with higher specs. Both versions of the netsurfer DUAL come with an effective GPS module. "I navigated my way around Johannesburg this week using the GPS module," Davies says.
FMT spent 2012 developing a portfolio of products - from 3G routers to lower priced WiFi-only tablets - that will help grow the company. "Later on this year, we will launch our smartphone," says Davies. "We now have a full range to complement our initial and very successful launch of the netsurfer TOUCH, South Africa's first Android tablet designed for the mass market."
To help the company develop its suite of products, FMT has recruited a software development team in Beijing, where it recently opened an office. In addition FMT are working towards establishing an development team in South Africa.
"As we develop more and more exciting new products and software applications, it makes sense to create our own software development team to help us drive our vision of being able to give South Africans the high quality, high spec but cost-effective mobile devices we need here," says joint CEO Tracy Andersson.
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