African Market to see $30 Smartphone

The Android operating system continues its quest to take over the world, bolstered by the introduction of a $30 smartphone in Africa and other parts of the developing world.

AMGOO, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, plans to begin shipments of its smartphone to African nations by the third week of August 2014. The company’s strategy is to attract new customers at a lower price point with its AMGOO AM 505 Spark device.

“It's taken years of smartphone manufacturing experience for AMGOO to finally be able to build a phone that we believe is high quality and durable for the low price of around just $30,” explained Adrian Leighton, AMGOO content marketing manager, in a company blog post.

“If we'd used sub-standard, or even reconditioned components to build the Spark then we could have offered it sooner, but after undergoing careful R&D at our factory we've been able to manufacture the phone with cost-effective processors and touch screens (traditionally the two most expensive elements) that give you all of the functionality, but none of the cost,” Leighton continued.

Mobile phone use is skyrocketing in African countries, and Pew Research reports that one factor is the rapid adoption of mobile payment technology. In a report from earlier this year, the company found 68 percent of cell phone users in Kenya and 50 percent of cell phone users in Uganda regularly use their mobile device to make or receive payments.

AMGOO’s launch is likely the first of many low-price smartphone entries as other manufacturers try to compete in the burgeoning smartphone market on the African continent and in other places of the developing world.

“The Spark will offer all of the advantages that smartphone users using much more expensive handsets have been enjoying for years, but in a price range that feature phone users in the developing world can afford,” according to Leighton.

The AMGOO AM 505 Spark runs on Google’s mobile operating system Android. It reportedly includes a rear (2.0 MP) and forward-facing (0.3 MP) camera, extra optional storage up to 32GB, USB mass storage and Bluetooth 2.0 support. 

Image via AMGOO