VMK launch 'first African-designed' smartphone and tablet - Polidicks

[URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20850778[/URL] [QUOTE][B]A smartphone and tablet said to be the first designed by an African company have been launched.[/B] The products, designed by Congolese entrepreneur Verone Mankou, are manufactured in China. His company VMK's devices run Google's Android software. They will retail at $170 (£105) for the smartphone and $300 (£185) for the tablet. "Only Africans can know what Africa needs," said Mr Mankou at the Tech4Africa conference in Johannesburg. "Apple is huge in the US, Samsung is huge in Asia, and we want VMK to be huge in Africa." [URL="http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/global-observer/first-african-designed-smartphone-and-tablet-hit-market/8563"] Technology blog Smartplanet reports[/URL] that the tablet offers wi-fi connectivity and four gigabytes of internal storage. Its name, Way-C, means "the light of the stars" in the local Lingala language. The smartphone has rear and forward facing cameras and a 3.5in (8.9cm) screen. There are plans to sell the devices across 10 other West African countries as well as Belgium, France and India. Mr Mankou said he hoped to launch a cheaper tablet for students next year. [B] First? [/B] The devices will come up against several already well-established and popular brands. Most notably, Blackberry-maker Research in Motion (RIM) has a significant presence on the continent, despite flagging sales in the western market. [IMG]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/64983000/jpg/_64983987_64983986.jpg[/IMG] The tablet is similar in size to Samsung's Galaxy Tab Popular too are handsets from Nokia which is working closely with Facebook to grow African's interest in both mobile communication and social networking. However, there is an increasing desire among African communities to support homegrown products, spurred on by fledgling technology scenes in various cities across the region. [B] 'Offended' [/B] Attempts to be seen as African have caused some firms to be accused of dishonesty. Companies were highly criticised after they were deemed to be marketing products that were made offshore but simply branded locally. VMK insisted that while the product was manufactured in China for cost reasons, the design and engineering was entirely African. A [URL="http://www.vmktech.com/en/designed-in-congo/authenticity"]page on the company's website[/URL] stressed that statement, saying: "We are somewhat offended by the disregard of those who persist in denying the authentication of our products, despite evidence. "Most of those critics are either Afro-pessimistic (who argue that 'nothing good can come from Africa'), or just (future) competitors." The company added that unlike previous "African" smartphones and tablets, there were no products matching the VMK devices in other countries under different branding. [/QUOTE] I came close to titling this article: African Company to be Sued by Apple and Samsung Here's the site if anyone is interested: [url]http://www.vmktech.com/en/[/url]

Neat

[QUOTE=Amiga OS;39011343]And it still looks nicer than Samsung hardware.[/QUOTE] I used to come, for Samsung. But now I'm gay, for VMK... :v:

Expected it to be made out of dry mud...

[QUOTE=Mark364;39011355]Expected it to be made out of dry mud...[/QUOTE] If you wanted that, you should have talked to Moses. I heard he had some pretty sweet tablets on display a while back.

oh no it has rounded corners, prepare for apple lawsuits!!!!!!!!!! [editline]29th December 2012[/editline] One Apple lawsuit would probably make it so Africa becomes apple territory

That design looks really neat

I love android and Samsung but... just why does Samsung insist on such horrid model designs?!?!!? A freaking VMK from Africa looks better than Samsung phones. And they have a fraction of the resources that Samsung has.

I'm kind of curious as to what they mean by 'the design and engineering was entirely African'. I wonder if it just means it was designed by Africans, or if some aspects of its style and design are African, and what that means for the resulting product.

[QUOTE=catbarf;39011978]I'm kind of curious as to what they mean by 'the design and engineering was entirely African'. I wonder if it just means it was designed by Africans, or if some aspects of its style and design are African, and what that means for the resulting product.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.vmktech.com/en/designed-in-congo/the-african-asset[/url]

Thinnest smartphone and tablet combo on the planet! They picked Android as the OS because ice cream sandwich and jelly bean sounds delish!

At first I read "'first Afghan-designed' smartphone and tablet". This is neat too, though.

[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;39011354]I used to come, for Samsung. But now I'm gay, for VMK... :v:[/QUOTE] Fapple to Apple

I feel like these devices will be developer and mod friendly... And it's running Android too.

[QUOTE=garychencool;39012495]I feel like these devices will be developer and mod friendly... And it's running Android too.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.vmktech.com/en/developers[/url]

[IMG]http://goo.gl/8ywPg[/IMG]

[QUOTE]"Only Africans can know what Africa needs," said Mr Mankou at the Tech4Africa conference in Johannesburg.[/QUOTE] So I take it the tablet is also edible, gives you immunity against AIDS, malaria, rape and execution by an african war lord?

[QUOTE=Amiga OS;39011343]And it still looks nicer than Samsung hardware.[/QUOTE] Oh lord, fanboys starting shit 3 posts in. It does look really good though, hope it's build quality is up to par with it's looks.

oh nice, post 0 and there are already apple and samsung jokes

[QUOTE=Ezhik;39014425]oh nice, post 0 and there are already apple and samsung jokes[/QUOTE] Really? In a thread about a tablet, the biggest tablet/smartphone makers come up? That is just shocking. Truly.

first step of the setup process is to input your bank account number and sort code then read the EULA which is just a nigerian prince letter

Dohohoho, its black. [sp]Oh god I'm sorry[/sp] On a serious note, the specs aren't very impressive. I guess "Only Africans can know what Africa needs".