Africa’s First Blackberry-like Smart Phone “Anabel Mobile” Is Coming
Since the Blackberry device came into Nigeria in 2006, there has been a huge hype about the future of mobile devices in Nigeria. While we await the arrival of the Apple iPhone into Nigeria, here comes another smartphone designed and manufactured for Africa - Anabel Mobile.
Anabel Mobile is Africa’s first smart phone with value added services and functunalities such as the ‘push and pull email’ which has been the hallmark of the Blackberry device. The handsets are manufactured and distributed by Nigerian-based start-up Anabel Mobile.
In a statement released to THISDAY, the company stated that “Anabel Mobile is a global brand created by Nigerians and which has chosen first to start with Nigeria giving Nigerians the respect and focus that many international brands have failed to do”.
Anabel Mobile devices are equally designed to meet the needs of high end students who are running sophisticated graduate or senior programmes and need advanced mobile devices for data analysis, communicating and reporting, and for sharing large files whether data, voice, music or video.
What Makes It Unique?
The Anabel Smart Phone is said to be extremely stylish and very user friendly and runs on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1, which makes it compatible with any PC anywhere in the world.
The Anabel Professional Series, which comes in ranges from PS 100s up to PS 200s, allows you to synchronise your Anabel Smart Phone with your PC, all your data, emails, presentations etc and since it is running on windows you can also prepare your power point, excel or word presentations while on the move in your car or while waiting for a flight at the airport.
The smart phone has been accredited and approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The NCC also granted Anabel Mobile a licence to operate within the Nigerian territory for sales of its full range of products. NCC is said to be excited that the Anabel devices will be the first hand held devices to carry the NCC accreditation and approval stamped on its devices.
My take on this
Although I’m excited to witness the launch of Nigeria’s first smart phone, I’m still skeptical about its functunalities. Particularly because the brand is hardly mentioned amongst other big mobile device companies such as Apple and Vodafone. I hope Anabel Mobile is truly what we expect it to be - a Blackberry-like smart phone.
Update 1: It seems that Anabel is about to launch a social networking site for Africans at myanabel.com. You can sign up for updates about the launch by visiting this link. I’ll be keeping you posted on this blog too:-)
Update 2: Pictures have been changed on this post.
it does not really matter it is an htc phone anyway. Just rebranded. It is like the tmobile wing.
I think its a good initiative coming into Naija! i wonder what the apple & co. think of naija we make more money and can maintain these phones. bt hey loy nice post!
is it “made” or ASSEMBLED in naija?????
for me its an exciting opportunity for nigeria since its provenance is authenticated by NCC. Instead of all these dubai clowns.
no matter the design or type of phone, we in Nigeria are not yet sophisticated in terms of I.T., what naija people really want is cheap phones, most Nigerian make use of their phones to call and send sms, any phone around can just do that, i think the choice is their, if they want to succed in the market, anabel should think towards the PRICE line.
I think its a good initiative and just the beginning for Naija made i phones.
the question is ,is it made in nigeria? or assembled
it is made in nigeria thats great. but imported or assemlbed disappointed
For me its great opportunity for Nigeria since its provenance is authenticated by NCC. Instead of all these dubai clowns and China etc. And if they want to succeed in the competitive market in Nigeria, Anabel should think towards the PRICE line margin with others because if their price is high the demand will be low and Anabel should come with a price that will attract the Nigerian populace. Anabel should think more of the maketing strategy - the engine of the company.
This is a great news for Nigerians. We want more of this kind of initiative. How esle can we start. Good move guys, great thinking. Please where can I buy my Anable phone now?
Wow, what an interesting discussion here…
@Oz - Think the PS 200 really looks like Blackberry.
@Francis - I agree with you. Apple iPhone doesn’t even have plans to launch in Nigeria yet. See my post
@SUNIE and Harry - According to the article - “The handsets are manufactured and distributed by Nigerian-based start-up Anabel Mobile.” However, I think they are not yet being manufactured in Nigeria. Anabel would be building a manufacturing plant in Nigeria soon.
@Bayo, Meg - Yeah, proudly Nigerian. @Friedo, my guess is - it should be about the price of a blackberry. But this depends on which telecoms company, Anabel Group signs a deal with to distribute the phones
@Bambi - Why not speak for yourself, pal. Mobile penetration is evolving and Mobile web browsing in Nigeria is rapidly increasing. See my post.
@Pius - I can’t really say for now. However, the phones were recently launched in Lagos, so we should expect more news from Anabel Group.
@Everyone - Thanks for your comments:-)
I hope and pray it will work
I think anabel is kool…but smaller version sud be produce..at least as small as nokia 3600s…compactible wit oda phones xpecialy wit bluetooth.and sud be cheap…and load with sum softwarez about nigeria…..good advert sud be 2d public on nta n ait n oda local tv station in d 3major city such as ph ,lag ,abj…finally..d phone sud be configure wit mtn ,glo n odas already… I wish u good luck in nigeria
Woooow! what a wonderful initiative. Anabel phones are all sleek & beautiful. All you guys gotta do is ensure d price aint too exhorbitant. Nigerians love it and are willing to buy but we dont have access to it here in Enugu. Pls make it available. Cheers & keep it up y’all…
Meeen..I cant wait To get my own anabel….Cuz ive long waited for This In Nigeria..
With the kind of offers Anabel Mobile has for Nigerians….I personally think it won’t be advisable to roll with only one network…some users might prefer Zain to glo or mtn to zain….what happens to other telecommunication providers like starcoms and reltel….flexibility should be in place here so that there will be no monopoly….. I believe Nigerians are ready for this kind of technology….
@kemi - I agree with you. If it has to be widely acceptable by Nigerians, then all mobile network subscribers should have reach to the phone. We’ll see how things go…
i dont like the name though i think it sounds more for female and this could be of huge treats to the company but i wish them all the best am impressed
it’s awesome to see that nigerians are taking the world by storm. more strength to Okoyes arm.kudos…………. uche oti PH
for me, this is one of the most wonderful thing that has happened to Nigeria this year. The manufacturers have done a good job by gettin NCC accreditation.we should just give them a chance to see what they ve got to offer.
Well, it’s ok. Long as it’s Nigerian, it’s cool with me.
A brand they claim is created by Nigerians do not even have a producing plant in NIgeria. Can you reconcile that? It is imported from Hongkong therefore what is Nigeria about Anabel or is it the name?
is it made or assembled? is it durable and affordable(at least for the average naija)
my name is Genius, i reside in port harcourt in nigeria. i saw the brand anabel mobile phone when it was lunch on television.my quesition is where can i get anabel mobile phone in portharcourt or anywhere in nigeria?
My names are Emmanuel Gibson,based in lagos. I thank God that finally they anabel phone came out,really is a dream come through.I pray that God will help them tosell and move to the next level in Jesus name.Amen. I love the phone,is a good investment.
we need not just phones in nigeria,but jobs that would give poeple the desire for such good phonesi need the phone and would need a job with anabelmobile,
[...] wasn’t at the premier of Anabel Mobile’s Windows Mobile powered smartphones held Sunday, February 1st at PC Outlet, The Palms, Victoria Island, even though I recieved an SMS [...]
Know we can boast of our own phone, thank GOD
i believe this is another way of making nigerians feel good about there country anabel mobile sure bet buy over my ideas and mobilize it will go a long way in the mobile generation business
well. i think it’s a good idea something like this is coming to naija, i wouldda been one of the first to buy but, do our service providers have all it takes to utilize all this services it promises? when ordinary mms we cannot use on our networks
abi? naija people make una talk now!
A big risk !
what’s the point in getting a standard HTC phone and calling it a Nigerian phone. Nigerians deserve better, it’s not made in Nigeria (it doesn’t have to be, afterall Switzerland doesn’t manufacture any cars but they are a rich country) but there is very stiff competition from Blackberry, iphones, google android, new Nokia N97 and a host other PDA phones including the very HTC the anabel is designed on. all these phones with the exception of the Nokia because it’s not yet out are available in Nigeria as we speak.
I wish the investors of Anabel the best of luck (they are probably going to need it), but if the need any other harebrained ideas of how to make money with technology in Nigeria they could do worse than contacting me.
regards
Ozoro
I will really love to have Anabel phone .. i have been in love since the very day i watched the lunched of Anabel on Tv.
Really advanced but we need to be sure of the facilities and price for common Naija..
Cheers kc
HOW DO I GET ANABEL PHONE NOW?
I REALLY LOVE TO OWN ANABEL PHONE NOW. HOW DO I ACQUIRE ONE?