China's Huawei launches new smartphone in Kenya

Chinese tech firm, Huawei, on Tuesday introduced P9, the latest addition to its smartphone family, into the Kenyan market.

Huawei Kenya Vice-Country Director, Freddie Zhang, said the smartphone targeting photography lovers is co-engineered with the global-leading camera producer, Leica Camera AG.

"The Huawei P9 is the first smartphone with an intelligent camera and promises users a unique experience with features such as a hybrid focusing system that allows you to capture those precious fleeting moments in your life," Zhang said in Nairobi.

The P9 comes with dual-camera technology, which means users can effectively refocus the picture after it is taken.

Zhang said the smartphone was already retailing in Kenya's mobile phone Safaricom shops and other retail outlets in Nairobi at 550 U.S. dollars, and will soon be sold at Safaricom shops countrywide.

According to Huawei, smartphone photography is becoming more popular with over 90 percent of smartphone users using their phones to take pictures.

"When you look at the recent studies done globally, the quality of a smartphone's camera is the third most important consideration for phone buyers, trailing only 4G/LTE capability and reliability/durability," Zhang said, adding consumers were using their smartphones as an everyday pocket camera.

Huawei also launched Mate 8 in Kenya, which boasts its power and battery life as well as entry-level smartphones targeting the mass market, with a view to increasing its local market share to over 25 percent by the end of this year. Endit