Stefan Mileschin

Intel has released its own mobile phone, dubbed Yolo, which is designed for the African market.

While you may mock the thought of trying to find a signal in the Serengeti on a phone which looks like WillIam’s attempts at spelling Yellow, it all makes sense. Honest.

Intel has signed a deal with Kenya's Safaricom which will see the first Intel-powered smartphone on the continent, priced at $126 and bundled with 500MB of data.

The handset supports HSPA+ network connectivity and packs a Z2420 Atom processor that reaches speeds of up to 1.2GHz. For those who came in late that is the "Lexington" chip which is named after the first US rout of the revolutionary war.

The phone runs on Android 4.0 and has a 3.5-inch display. It can snap pictures with a 5-megapixel shooter capable of recording 1080p HD video.

While there is probably nothing to see here in terms of technology, Intel has made a wise move. Much of the continent is a growing market for mobiles where the technology is cheaper than putting copper into the ground.

Peter Arina, general manager, Safaricom' s Consumer Business Unit said that the Yolo smartphone strikes a unique balance between price and performance.

He said that it was great news Kenya will be the launch country in Africa for smartphones with Intel Inside, and expected a “great reception from its customers”.

http://news.techeye.net/mobile/intel...phone-in-kenya