Electronics manufacturer LG has launched a new range of Internet- enabled mobile phones in the Kenyan market targeting the technology savvy consumers to grow its market.
With the new range of phones, users will be able to upload their digital images to social networking sites such as YouTube —the popular video sharing website that is partnering with LG in the venture.
K.W. Kim, the LG President for the Middle East and Africa says the handsets will be available in the local market by the end of the year.
LG customers will be able to film, upload and view videos on YouTube using their mobile phone just as they would from their home computers.
Research by Engadget, a technology weblog, says camera phones have become the market leaders and outsell digital and film cameras combined.
Mr Kim says LG plans to use the savvy phones to attract youthful users that constitute the bulk of the growth market.
The phone, whose retail price is yet to be released, is expected to cost an average of Sh30,000 and will enable users to take advantage of newly available mobile Internet solutions from mobile service providers Safaricom and Celtel.
Celtel recently launched its MultiMedia Messaging Service (MMS) that is backed with an interconnection agreement with its arch rival Safaricom.
The product is priced at Sh15 per message, with MMS of more than 50 kilobytes (kb) being charged in blocks of 50kb at the same price. Steve Chen, co-founder and chief technology officer said the partnership would open up new opportunities for Kenyan users to enjoy YouTube for watching and sharing interesting moments.
“People want to be able to capture interesting moments with their cell phones wherever they are and whenever they want,” said Mr Chen.
“We’re excited to be partnering with LG to give people the opportunity to enjoy YouTube for watching and sharing those moments.”
YouTube—enabled handsets will have a new user interface to enable them easily access and upload video content.
LG says their strategy for the region would continue to push wireless Internet services to gain more market share in the fiercely competitive local mobile market.
LG first announced its agreement to pre-install Google’s services on its handsets in March 2007. As a first step in this partnership, LG recently launched the LG-KS10, featuring a 2.4 inch LCD, 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, and multimedia playback also includes Google search, G-mail for mobile, and Google Maps for mobile.
Global trends reveal that younger mobile phone owners will make up the bulk of buyers in emerging markets.
They will be attracted by value added services which offer them enhanced communication, such as imaging and video, and services that are fun, such as music and games.
“This is the era of tech-luxury. People want cutting edge technology that adapts to their needs. We anticipate selling 250 million units next year based on that premise,” said Henri Mattila, Head of Multimedia, Nokia, South and East Africa.
Source: Business Daily
