Google is bringing its Android One initiative to Africa with a launch in Nigeria with operator MTN and smartphone manufacturer Infinix. The Infinix Hot 2 smartphone is now available at MTN Nigeria stores and online through the Jumia marketplace for NGN 19,500 (EUR 89). The dual-Sim Android 5.1 device comes with a 5-inch HD screen, 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage, 8 megapixel back camera, 2 megapixel front camera and 2,200 mAh battery. It will be available in white, blue, red and black and also in gold with 2 GB RAM, for a price of NGN 19,500. MTN is offering 1 GB a data for NGN 500 per month for 12 months with the phone.
Google first launched Android One last year to work with manufacturers to bring simpler, low-cost smartphones to emerging markets. The initiative has mainly focused on India and south Asia to date. In Africa it plans to launch the Infinix phone in the coming weeks also in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco. Infinx is already an established smartphone seller in Africa and the Middle East, working closely with Jumia for distribution.
Google also announced the launch of a streamlined version of Google Search for easier use on phones with low RAM, such as 512 MB. The company said this can reduce data usage on the results page by up to 90 percent, while cutting the time to load results by half. In addition, it will extend YouTube offline to Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt within the next few months. This feature of the YouTube app lets users store videos on YouTube for up to 48 hours for offline viewing.
