With numerous applications available in the Android Market, IDEOSTM U8150 provides a wide range of communication, entertainment, office, and financial management applications. "We are delighted to work together with our partners to continue providing affordable innovative smartphones. Our focus is on the value proposition to offer intelligent solutions to help telecom operators attract more subscribers and business opportunities and most importantly to create a simple and fun life for end users," Huawei Kenya Chief Operations Officer Radoslaw Kedzia said.

"The collaboration of Huawei and a globally recognized brand such as with Google, will assist in driving the internet evolution in the emerging markets such as Africa. We are deeply excited about the launch of our U8150, the first of the IDEOS series, and we are confident that consumers will enjoy smarter devices created for a simpler world."

A recent research by TNS Research International on internet use habits and motivations showed that Kenya and Sub-Saharan African internet use is in a strong growth phase mostly driven by growth in mobile access with latest statistics showing that six out of every ten Kenyan users access internet through mobile phones.

Safaricom has continued to invest heavily in its data infrastructure. The number of 3G enabled sites has increased significantly as has been the Wimax network offering coverage to a large proportion of the Kenya population.

"We are now positioned to provide better and faster mobile and fixed data products and services to corporate, medium sized enterprises and even individuals at affordable rates," said Arina.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2011)