Former Apple CEO's 'Obi' smartphones to launch in Kenya

Obi Mobiles, the new smartphone brand co-founded by veteran marketer and former Apple CEO John Sculley, is set to be unveiled in March in Kenya, followed by a phased roll-out across other markets in the region.

In a statement, John Sculley, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Inflexionpoint, said, “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.

“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.”

The firm said there is also a growing trend of feature phone users moving towards smartphones and Obi aims to meet that growing demand.

“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,” stated Amit Rupchandani, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa Region at Obi Mobiles.

Obi will compete established brands like Samsung, Techno, Lumia and the recently launched Infinix, Ole and Wiko mobile.