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Orange has partnered with KaiOS Technologies and UNISOC to launch an affordable phone, Sanza, with voice recognition in 16 countries in Africa and the Middle East

The partnership has taken place at Mobile World Congress, being held in Barcelona from 25-28 February 2019.

3G smart feature phone

Beginning April 2019, Orange customers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire will have access to a new category of smart feature phones powered by KaiOS, the operating system from KaiOS Technologies. The other countries will follow in the year.

Powered by the UNISOC SC7731EF chipset platform with a long-lasting battery life up to five days, Sanza features 3G+, Torch, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, combined with advanced smartphone-like functionalities.

Advanced functionalities for Africans

Due to the Google Assistant, Sanza is set to help overcome language and literacy challenges, as the customers can access information and applications on the device with their voice.

This new phone is set to give access to applications such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google Search and Google Maps, as well as Orange Money, the flagship mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer and My Orange, the application to monitor the mobile consumption.

Gérard Lokossou, CEO of Orange Democratic Republic of Congo, said “The Smartphone penetration rate in the Democratic Republic of Congo is quite low, 30 per cent versus the average of 50 per cent for the continent. The established mobile payment services via Orange Money, the launch of 4G+ in 2018 and our engagement to extend the 3G coverage to the whole country, are all contributing to boosting the smartphone penetration rate in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies, said, “Our mission is to help close the digital divide by bringing mobile connectivity to the billions of people without internet in emerging markets, as well as providing those in established markets with an alternative to smartphones.”

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