via Africa’s first smart-feature phone with 60-day standby time launched | News | HumanIPO.

The launch of the new smart-feature phone with 60-day standby time is certainly a welcome new development. If anything, it indicates that mobile device manufacturers are taking into account the needs of and the challenges faced by African technology users. I must admit I am somewhat confused by the label “feature-smart”. With the advent of smart phones, feature phones have been on the way out for some time now. I wonder how smart this phone is.

Another remark that comes to mind is that this phone might be trying to be “all things to all people”. Smart-phone use tends to be an urban phenomenon in Africa. It is associated with higher levels of education and literacy. Therefore smart-phone users do not necessarily have electricity supply challenges. So the phone might be a bit too basic for the existing users.

It appears that Mi-Fone sells in countries with fairly advanced telecommunications such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, DRC, and Mauritius. I would interpret the introduction of the new phone as an attempt to facilitate the adoption of advanced services in the rural areas of such countries. Certainly, it is a worthy challenge!