Safaricom and Sony Ericsson bring Xperia X10 Androids to Kenya.
Its been a hectic two weeks so haven’t had much time to blog. Since Nairobi’s legendary traffic awaits me as does the rain this Friday evening, I thought I would do a quick post some news that came my way today. It seems that the android tsunami is definitely gaining momentum in Kenya since Safaricom and Sony Ericsson have launched two android models in the market this week.
The handsets are both from the Xperia line and are the X10 mini and the X10 mini pro. The X10 mini is retailing for Kes. 24,999.00 and the X10 mini pro is retailing for Kes. 27,999.00. The handsets will be sold exclusively via Safaricom’s shops.
Sony Ericsson is the second company to bring android handsets to Kenya with Safaricom after Huawei launched two models in July 2010 as reported on this blog.
The X10 mini and X10 mini pro have the following specifications:
- Screen: 240 x 320 pixels (QVGA) and 6,777,216 color TFT
- Memory: MicroSDâ„¢ support (up to 16 GB) and Phone memory of 128MB (actual free memory may vary due to phone pre-configuration)
- Networks: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS/HSPA 900/2100, UMTS/HSPA 850/1900/2100
- Sizes: 83.0 x 50.0 x 16.0 mm, 3.3 x 2.0 x 0.6 inches
- Weight: 88.0 gr/ 3.1 oz
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26 Comments
Aha! Good but the Xperia runs on Android 1.6 when we should be talking either2.1 or 2.2 for a great user experience. At that price, this will prove popular for those who want to get a hold on one of these Android pieces, and i am especially thinking of the young tech community who understand all these issues about Android, Apps n all. This is almost something good to read (http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/15-best-mobile-phones-in-the-world-today-645440?artc_pg=18), n i hope safcom will in future give us a taste of HTC
@jaffar yes indeed – things are getting better and android will start becoming the norm in the months to come. I know for a fact that there more android models enroute before the year is out to Kenya from Samsung and LG. Not sure whether we will see the Motorola handsets here soon but I am willing to bet that they too will have something in the works. Last but not least don’t count out Nokia, they have some nifty handsets coming in before the end of the year 🙂
[…] the Xperia X10, the Xperia X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro in their 32 retail stores countrywide.via Share and Enjoy: /**/ Related posts: Xperia X8 to be released in the US soonSony Ericsson Xperia […]
The Mini Pro is a great entry level Android phone! Unbelievably tiny but still potent for messaging and email with the QWERTY keyboard. Hopefully Safaricom and Sony Ericsson update it to Android 2.1 sooner rather than later as 1.6 is old and doesn’t exploit the hardware to its full potential.
Here’s hoping Android is pushed heavily in Kenya. Safaricom seems willing but so far we’re getting budget or old handsets from Huawei and now SE. LG and Samsung are nowhere to be seen on the local Android scene. Google also has a role to play and enabling the Android Market (Paid Apps) for Kenyans would be a start. They also need to get local developers excited about the platform and the potential benefits of writing Android apps.
It’s a market waiting to be exploited as iPhone is officially going nowhere with Orange as the only official network.
@kaz thanks for the comments. True that the handsets are older as are the versions of android being used. However, what excites me is that they are now here and slowing gaining traction. This is what the developer community needs – a platform that they can develop local applications for. Its just a matter of time going forward.
Huawei just announced a ‘budget’ 2.2 handset too hopefully we will see that here soon.
Maybe Motorola can take advantage of LG and Samsung’s unwillingness to give us a proper smartphone. They make a comprehensive range of Droid phones.
On a separate note – I don’t understand why Safaricom do these big launches in the press when the shops are not stocked with the new phones yet. These SE phones were not in store yesterday despite the full page daily ads. Was the same story with the Huawei Android launch!
men, if only i could get my hands on one of those, i sampled some at a safcom shop and i was bedazzled, i jus looove sony ericson. i curently have a w350i, where can i get spares in kenya/nairobi?
First i have been a sony ericsson die hard, my first phone was a k300i, that time in college everyone thought i was Father Christmas, having a phone that could sing a song for a ringtone (mp3), then steadly i upgraded to k700i, k800, P series, then this year i got the Xperia X1 in Feb, then Last week but one, i upgraded to x10, i have held a an Apple Iphone, a HTC HD2, a nokia n97, acer neo touch, HUH But this XPERIA X10 Android Xperience is out of this world, i cant explain the feeling, its alot of things in one, its worth every shilling it costs, its a priceless piece of work, go for it guys the X10 for sure you wount regret a thing, may it be the breath taking 4 inch screen, or the superfast 1ghz SnapDragon Processor, or the 8megapixel camera, or the bundled office applications, whatever it is you are looking for, i guess x10 i is gonna surprise you
@erick sounds like a super vote of confidence from you for the X10s! I may just pick up one soon.
Picked up a Mini Pro from Safaricom yesterday. Biggest surprise is no App Market at all! Not even free Apps! What’s the point of a smartphone without apps!?!
Also the phone was clearly used upon inspection. Photos on the SD card, calls and texts made, it was even asking me for the Google password for an unknown account!
Hope they accept a return. Lack of App Market is huge! Can’t even install a simple unit conversion App!
This lack of access to the android market here in kenya is gonna result in some serious backlash. I picked up an x10 mini pro and went livid when i was told- NO, DISCOVERED after scouring the internet that i cannot access the market from kenya. This handset is seriously limited without it. i would advise kenyans to wait until the market is accessible here before getting it. Or root your phone. Disgusted at safaricom, google and SE.
Eeesh! Ati no Apps market? I just looked at the Xperia mini pro today and liked it, was going to check on my bank account and then go buy it pronto….but without Apps?!
I don’t get it. When I google ‘Android Apps’, I get a whole list of websites! You mean I can’t access them from Kenya?
What’s the point then? We’re not dumb. Maybe will wait for the Nokia c6-01. Looks great, new Symbian, and that means so many Apps I’ll soon be cursing for having downloaded them all!
You know that one…what is this? Do I need this one? And this one? DELETE!
anyone who can help me with zain and safcom internet settings for x10 mini.
S.O.S (Saidia Ohh Saidia)
have a problem with X10 mini it wn’t download internet settings automatically.. (for both zain and safaricom)
pliz anyone who can assist, will really appreciate
Kenya/Nairobi
can the phone be acquired through installments? i would love to own one please
@Vince…if you got the settings please share them here so that the rest of us can access them. Mine is not a mini but am guesing it would use similar settings. Thanx!!
I really need to update to this the new Xperia X10 mini, i love it! Being a girl, the colors really suite me not to mention the fact that it runs on android!Aiiyaiya, talk about mad user expereince. I wish to start a committee so that by the end of the year, id have the phone…who is in?
For all those who have bought android phones from Safaricom
and were dissapointed to find that the Android Market app is
missing, I can help U install it. For a nominal fee I guarantee to
connect you to a world of thousands of android applications. Reach
me on kennywes09@gmail.com
am in need of sony ericsson xperia x10 min. black in colour and the cost.
Is it possible to buy one on higher purchase terms.I want and need one fast.Kindly advice.
@ephy I have no idea if this is possible. I doubt it.
pliz keep updating hizi prize za sony ericsson smartphones………. tunahitaji
does anybody know the price of xperia pro?
What is the current price for Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini pro, Sony Ericsson Xperia, Sony Ericsson Xperia mini and Sony Ericsson Xperia X10?
Is there any of these phones with a dual SIM?
I need to purchase one.
Regards
where can i buy sony ericcson xperia x10
i was given sony ericcson mini x10 the problem with is where to get new battery the phone fell and casing need to be changed please advice am at umoja