Latest News

Mi-APPS – Mobile Applications for the Masses

Mar 03 |13:57

1 March 2010 – Mi-Apps is an exciting new innovation brought to you by Mi-Fone (BVI) Ltd, Africa’s fastest growing mobile devices brand and nominee for “New Entrant of the Year 2009” at the recent 2nd annual AfricaCom Awards.

Mi-Apps’ purpose is to provide useful and innovative mobile applications for Mi-Fone’s low cost handsets to both GSM carriers and corporate enterprises. Available initially on certain Mi-Fone handsets, Mi-Apps will offer the mass market sector the ultimate mobile user experience with Push e-mail Services and Instant Messaging. Later versions will include popular social sites like Facebook, MSN, Yahoo, Google and a selection of exciting 3rd party applications, which will be available via the Mi-Apps stores.

Mi-Fone and Mi-Apps cater for the growing need for Data Enabled Services for the mass market sectors within emerging markets. Mi-Apps is also ideally placed for Telco carriers to provide their customers with a unique value add service offering. In addition to this, Mi-Apps can be used by corporate enterprises that require high levels of mobility for its field staff. Initially Mi-Apps will launch via JAVA enabled handsets, but later versions will work with non JAVA handsets, keeping in mind the needs of the mass markets.

“Mi-Apps is a bouquet of Applications relevant to our customer target markets.
In version 1 we are bringing Pushmail, Instant Messenger, and a couple of localized relevant SMS apps. Version 2 will incorporate Facebook lite and others”, says Alpesh Patel CEO Mi-Fone/Mi-Apps. Patel continues, “A lot of the mass market consumers have Gmail and Hotmail but tend to be restricted to using Internet Cafes due to the high cost of laptops. Mi-Apps recognizes and addresses the needs of this consumer in a cost effective and stylish handset. Mi-Apps is embedded at factory level therefore the user simply takes it out of the box, clicks and activates the service - the user experience is so much simpler.”

Mi-Apps will be delivering a “Blackberry lite” experience to the African mass market. “Yes, lots of people would love to have a Blackberry in Africa but simply cannot afford a $500 phone. We are giving you a similar looking phone with QWERTY and the relevant apps at way below the $70 price point” says Patel.

Mi-Apps will also be available for download OTA on other brand handsets. “We are not going to limit Mi-Apps to Mi-Fone handsets only. This is a mass market initiative and we want Mi-Apps to be used openly and widely in all types of relevant handsets. Our aim is to deliver the ultimate user experience and relevant content for the African mass market consumer all via Mi-Apps”, says Alpesh Patel

Visit www.mi-fone.mobi for more information on Mi-Apps.
ENDS

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:
For technical presentations please contact the Mi-Fone marketing department
About Mi-Fone
Mi-Fone is an innovative mobile devices lifestyle brand established to focus on the growing needs of the mass market sector within emerging and frontier markets. The Mi-Fone headquarters is in Hong Kong with regional offices in Dubai and authorized service centres in Nairobi, Mauritius, Accra and Johannesburg. The team combines over 20 years of telecom experience in markets such as Africa, Middle East and Asia.

About Alpesh Patel, CEO
Prior to starting Mi-Fone, Alpesh Patel was director of sales for Africa and the Middle East for Motorola Inc, responsible for shipping over 5 million handsets in the space of two years. During his time with the company, he achieved the single largest distribution order for Motorola of 1 million units, catapulting the company to the number one market share position in key African markets such as Kenya and the DRC. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of Hull in the UK.

Mi 2010 product release

Feb 26 |08:12

African GSM Operator to launch Embedded SIM Mobile Devices produced by Mi-Fone

Dec 02 |12:27

Mi-Fone, Africa’s fastest growing mobile devices brand and nominee for “New Entrant of the Year 2009” at the recent 2nd annual AfricaCom Awards, has produced an innovative embedded SIM Mobile handset. This has been done in conjunction with an unnamed African GSM Operator.

African GSM Operator to launch Embedded SIM Mobile Devices produced by Mi-Fone

Dec 02 |12:06

Mi-Fone, Africa’s fastest growing mobile devices brand and nominee for “New Entrant of the

Year 2009” at the recent 2^nd annual AfricaCom Awards, has produced an innovative embedded SIM Mobile handset. This has been done in conjunction with an unnamed African GSM Operator.

Established in 2008 with a focus on emerging and frontier markets in Sub Sahara Africa and India, Mi-Fone’s primary target is young adult mobile users who are techno-savvy on a global level, but are often left wanting due to limited access of affordable state-of-the-art mobile technology. Offering an extensive range of phones incorporating GPRS, JAVA and other quality features normally associated with high-end mobile handsets, Mi-Fone’s extensive range of phones are available below the $70 price bracket.

About to celebrate its second anniversary, Mi-Fone has already established itself as a brand connecting Africa and providing the growing needs of the mass market sector with lifestyle products.

Mi-Fone’s latest model, the first of its kind, has an embedded SIM. The state-of-the-art Mi205e EMBEDDED SIM handset has a SIM card embedded at factory level, protecting the GSM Carriers from people unlocking the phone as well enabling cost savings on fancy and expensive SIM card packaging. The phone number is also conveniently located on the box and enables efficient Logistics and Supply chain inventory management. Additionally the Embedded SIM initiative guarantees no more lost or stolen SIMs .

“With our embedded SIM solutions we aim to further protect our Carrier partners and give them a cost effective solution for enabling even more subscriber uptake within their markets. All the work is done at the factory level hence Carriers can manage their supply chain more efficiently and focus their time and resources on what they do best” says Alpesh Patel, CEO Mi-Fone.

Mi-Fone’s quality, style-conscious mobile phones are currently available in 15 African countries, including Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritius, DRC, Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Madagascar and Nigeria as well as in India via a mixture of distributors, retailers and GSM Operators. Mi-Fone aims to increase its footprint to over 25 African countries by late 2010 and to be a global brand servicing emerging markets by 2012.

Step up to the Mi-C for a chance to win US$10,000

Nov 02 |10:46

Win $10 000 Step up to the Mi-C for a chance to win US$10,000. Mi brand of mobile devices links with continental hip-hop talent search...

Melissa DeBlok Miss India Kenya Worldwide

Nov 02 |10:45

Miss Kenya 14 February 2009

Mi wishes Melissa DeBlok Miss India Kenya Worldwide, a safe journey whilst she represents Kenya in the Miss India Worldwide pageant to be held in Durban, South Africa on Valentines day!