Waabeh, Africa’s Audio Marketplace has launched on Windows 8 with over 3000 songs from Africa’s top artists in a move to capture Nokia’s new class of Windows 8 lovers. The platform was earlier launched on web then on Android Play Store.
“Our first version of the Waabeh for windows 8 phones is finally available. This version allows you to stream to over 3000 songs from artists from around Africa,” said Tim Rimbui, Waabeh CEO and Co-founder.
Waabeh launched last year to solve the problem of discovery, delivery and distribution of audio content from Africa to the rest of the world. The streaming platform aims to reach is the 115 Million middle class African’s that want to see and hear their own stories. The firm also says it has passed 320000 streams, close to 10,000 downloads. Buyers can use credit cards or mobile money platforms to pay for content. They also allow anyone to embed songs on their websites for their readers.
Windows Phone 8 is gaining market share in emerging markets. According to Nokia’s executive VP of smart devices business, Jo Harlow speaking at CommNexus, Nokia shipped 8.7 million Windows Phone handsets in the second quarter, 82 percent of all Windows Phones compared to the same quarter in 2012, where it shipped just 4.9 million Windows Phones..
Though Windows Phone had just a 3.7 percent quarterly market share compared to Android’s 79 percent and iOS’s 13 percent, its market share is growing, especially in emerging markets such as Western Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
Harlow said in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, Lumia devices broke through 20 percent market share, making Windows Phone a significant platform.
Launching on the platform is therefore Waabeh, first move to capture Africa where Android and Windows are dominant players, with iOS as a latecomer.