Microsoft partners with China's Huawei to launch cheap smartphone in Africa

The U.S. computer group Microsoft has partnered with the Chinese manufacturer Huawei to launch a multifunction phone cheap in Africa, has announced its Vice President Ali Faramawy region, in a blog posted Monday night on a special website.

The new "smartphone", named Huawei 4Afrika, running the new operating system Windows 8 American group. It will be equipped as standard applications "designed for Africa by Africans," he said.

This device will be the first of a series of mobile devices for students, software developers, but also to new customers who will be able to access the best technologies, assured Mr. Faramawy.

In his blog, the Microsoft executive said today, only one out of ten phone sold in Africa is a "smartphone". It is not clear how the new unit will be sold in these markets, but according to the New York Times its price should be around 150 $.

In his blog, the head of Microsoft Soule 4Afrika Huawei will be marketed initially in seven countries: South Africa, Angola, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria.

Huawei, it is known for its ability to cheaply produce innovative products, also has a bad reputation with the U.S. authorities who accuse him its relationship with the Chinese authorities.

Quoted by the paper, another Microsoft executive, Fernando de Sousa, said the American had also launch smartphones designed to Africa with his number one ally, the Finnish Nokia.

The launch of Huawei 4Afrika is part of an offensive group to popularize American high technology in Africa, the region where phone sales grew the fastest.

By 2016, Microsoft plans and contribute to the dissemination of "tens of millions" of smartphones among African youth, connect one million SMEs in the continent to train 200,000 African internet and new technologies.