Microsoft is turning to Africa for future growth opportunities. As part of this new push, the US software giant and Chinese telecommunications equipment company Huawei are set to unveil a new, low-cost Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone aimed at the African market at events in Johannesburg, Abidjan, Lagos, Nairobi and Cairo on Tuesday [5 February 2013].
Late on Monday night, Microsoft announced a new project called the 4Afrika Initiative, under which it wants to get tens of millions of Windows Phone-based smart devices in the hands of young Africans; bring a million African small and medium-sized enterprises online; train 100 000 skills; and help an additional 100 000 recent graduates develop "employability skills", 75% of whom the company says it will help place in jobs.
The first step of the initiative involves the introduction of Huawei 4Africa, a Windows Phone 8 smartphone that will come preloaded with selected applications "designed for Africa". The phone will be available at launch in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Angola and Côte d'Ivoire.
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