Congo releases first Africa-designed smartphone

 

  


A Congolese inventor has unveiled what he says is the first African-designed smartphone.It went on sale on 27 December in the Republic of Congo.

Verone Mankou, 27, said Elikia, means “hope” in the local language. Mankou, head of the company VMK, said the Android-powered device was on sale only in Congo for now, but he planned to launch it in other countries.

The phone was initially due to go on sale in October but its launch was delayed “because of an explosion in demand,” he said.

Though the phone is Congolese by design, it is manufactured in China. It costs about 130 euros ($170) 
 a considerable sum in this central African nation.

The phone has a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 512 megabytes of RAM and a 650-Mhz processor. Its camera is five megapixels, and it also comes with GPS and Bluetooth.

Mankou last year designed what was billed as Africa’s first tablet computer.

Source: PM News
 

News In Nigeria: FCMB Emerges Best In Pre-paid Card Issuance

 

In a statement from First City Monument Bank Nigeria Plc (FCMB) yesterday, FCMB said it has been honoured as the ‘Best Bank in Pre-paid Card Issuance for 2012’ at the annual Verve Bank Awards organized by Interswitch Nigeria Limited recently in Lagos.

In their statement, the bank said it beat two other nominees in the category to win the award by recording the highest growth in pre-paid cards, quoting the organizers, FCMB has “contributed significantly towards the realization of the objectives of the cashless policy initiative.”

Director of Switching and Processing of Interswitch, Mr. Akeem Lawal, commended FCMB for the “clear cut strategy and efforts put into driving prepaid card implementation, especially as it helps to promote financial inclusion for the under banked.” Mr. Akeem Mustafa (Group Head, High Networth Individuals and affluent Segment of Consumer Banking, received the award on behalf of FCMB.

He thanked Interswitch for recognizing the banks efforts and contribution.