Chinese mobile makers bridge the global digital divide

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales have an unlocked Android-powered 3G smartphone, made by Chinese mobile maker Huawei – which was selling for $85 on the streets of Kenya last year and now goes for $50.

50 US dollars is a sad number for Chinese mobile makers. IDC data shows the top 4 Chinese mobile makers (ZTE, Huawei, Lenovo and Coolpad) take 16% of globle smartphone market. Price war didn't bring profit for them, but the competetion bring down the smartphone price, now by and by, bridge the global digital divide.

We all know One Laptop Per Child project, but their latest product is 206 US dollars. Smartphone can do more and more job nowadays, 50 US dollars smartphone can handle almost all daily apps.

Compare with OLPC, smartphone is a better digital device. Smartphone has following features:

  • Cheaper. Decent Smartphone price is 1/4 of OLPC.
  • More ways lead to internet. OLPC only can get online via WIFI. Smartphone can access visa 3G network and WIFI.
  • More time per charge. “The screen is a little smaller than the iPhone, it’s not quite as good but the battery lasts two days,” he joked.
  • Market lead.

“What I always thought about mobile in Africa…is this [smartphone adoption] is coming in the future — in the future someday,” said Wales. “Well the someday’s happening faster than I ever realised.”