Former CEO of Apple, John Sculley, is set to challenge the likes of Samsung, Tecno, Lumia by introducing “obi Mobiles” into the African market. Evidently, John is drawn to the potential of the growing, mobile phone penetration in the continent.
This invasion is expected to start in Kenya as well as other countries located in East Africa. According to ITNewsAfrica, The company is set to roll-out a number of Obi devices for consumers in the region in Q1, with an aim to capture 5 percent market share by the end of this year.
According to John Sculley, who is now co-founder and managing partner at Inflexionpoint: “Our vision is to use Obi’s success in each new market to create an international brand, especially targeted at the feature-rich and trendy smartphone segment. Having launched in India and the Middle East, with a better-than-anticipated response, has helped us set the pace for the Obi expansion blueprint, and now we are expanding our strategy of effective brand building and marketing for superior mobile devices in other regions.
He also adds; “The African markets present a huge opportunity for new smartphone devices, with a growing population of technology- and fashion-savvy youth. Consumers today want the best feature-rich smartphone experience at desirable price points, without compromising on quality. There is also a growing trend of feature phone users moving towards smartphones. Our analysis has revealed that consumers today are more likely to switch brands as long as they have sufficient incentive. Obi is uniquely positioned to leverage all these changing market dynamics.”
Designed to capture the minds of the younger demographic, Obi devices are packed with style and superior features. The range includes mobile devices that run on the efficient Android Kit Kat platform, powered by multi-core processors, including an octa-core option, dual-SIM capabilities, large screen sizes and high quality camera options, all packaged in a robust and stylish exterior.
Amit Rupchandani, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa region at Obi Mobiles, adds: “While the mobile industry is often associated with highly expensive products sold using technical jargon, at Obi Mobiles the belief is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Obi is perfect for the growing number of mobile phone users in this region who desire the best smartphone experience without a huge financial investment.
“Added to that is our brand philosophy of ‘Whoever you are’. What it essentially means is that Obi doesn’t judge you, it lets you be you. In keeping with that, we have a broad range of quality products to suit the different personalities and preferences of smartphone users.
Check out one of the commercials from the company, tagged “Chameleon”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwpxcxMpm_s
Sculley was the CEO of Apple from 1983 until 1993. Since then, he has been an active investor and director in several high-tech companies.
