An African device manufacturer has taken steps to get its feature and smartphone handsets tested and certified for African, Chinese and Middle East Carrier Networks Partners
p>An African device manufacturer has taken steps to get its feature and smartphone handsets tested and certified for African, Chinese and Middle East Carrier Networks Partners
Mi-Fone and device management vendor Mobilethink have announced an Interoperability Testing Partnership (ITP) aimed at certifying Mi-Fone devices for compliance with OTA provisioning standards. The goal of the ITP is to enable Mi-Fone users in African, Chinese and Middle East markets to have automatic data connectivity for 3G/internet, MMS and other value-added services, according to Thomas Yde Frederiksen, Mobilethink’s chief of product management and marketing.
For the past decade, Mobilethink has teamed up with local as well as global handset manufacturers to ensure the highest possible device coverage in GSM carrier networks. Currently, the firm has continuous ITP’s in place with over 80 device manufacturers including Samsung and LG.
The ITPs enable Mobilethink to update its database of device settings before new models are launched. Like other device manufacturers, Mi-Fone will share its device roadmaps and device specific information with Mobilethink for it to undertake in-house testing of current and future models.
Mi-Fone is the first African owned mobile device manufacturer partner to offer a range of affordable, world-class handsets and applications without the price tag normally associated with high-end devices. Mi-Fone is currently focused on providing mobile solutions for the growing needs of mass-markets within emerging and frontier markets and has offices in Dubai, Hong Kong, China, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Mauritius.
“Mi-Fone is delighted to enter into this partnership with Mobilethink, which will enable us to enhance the credibility of our handsets with African, Chinese and Mid-East carriers,” said Alpesh Patel, Mi-Fone’s CEO. “This ITP is central to Mi-Fone realising its strategic goal of delivering the ultimate consumer handset experience in our target markets.”
Tine Sørensen, Mobilethink’s Chief of Devices said, “Mi-Fone is one of Africa’s fastest growing mobile device brands and its partnership with Mobilethink will certainly help it to have credibility with more carriers in world markets and for carriers to keep pace with the changing handset landscape.”
