Safaricom has announced the launch of the new Yolo smartphone, the first smartphone in Africa to feature Intel Inside
The device, which is to be launched in Kenya, will cost KES10,999 (US$126) and will come bundled with 500 MB of free data.
Peter Arina, general manager of Safaricom's consumer business unit, said, "We're redefining what cost-conscious Kenyans can expect from a smartphone. The Intel-based Yolo smartphone strikes a unique balance between price and performance – we consider it to be a real breakthrough. It's great news that Kenya will be the launch country in Africa for smartphones with Intel Inside and we expect a great reception from our customers."
The phone is based on Intel's latest smartphone platform for emerging markets, which was launched in January 2012 at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA.
The device, which is powered by the Intel Atom processor Z2420 with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, can achieve speeds of up to 1.2 GHz and offers 1080-pixel HD video capture along with a camera featuring advanced imaging capabilities.
The device is housed in a compact design and features a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, FM radio, an expandable memory slot and HSPA+ modem support with Intel's XMM 6265 modem for global roaming. The handset can also be enabled with McAfee mobile security software.
Aysegul Ildeniz, Intel’s regional director for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, commented, "We are delighted to partner with Safaricom in bringing the first smartphone with Intel Inside to Kenyan consumers. The new handset extends the benefits of Intel technology to more smartphone users around the world and we believe that Kenyan consumers will welcome the increased functionality and overall value of the device. We look forward to our continued co-operation with Safaricom."
