French tablet and smartphone maker Archos, recently signed a deal with Uni Group for distribution in Egypt as a door to its final launch in Africa beginning from Senegal, Nigeria and the Maghreb countries.Uni Group, a mobile phone leader in Egypt distributes products in more than 1700 sales points all over Egypt and is number 3 in the mobile phone market in Egypt according to GFK. There deal in May this year, will help the firm’s launch affordable devices in Egyptian market.
The two firms aim ship over a million units in 2015 and have put aside EGP 20 million to take over the market.
Speaking to the AFP, Archos’s CEO, Loic Poirier said: “The important thing is to find a partner that can deliver mobiles in different points of sale and to have a solid network. Poirier forecast that between 50 and 70 million smartphones would be sold in Africa next year, compared to 25 million in 2014 and 15 million in 2013.”
According to GFK, during the first half of 2014, the 100 to 150€ smartphone segment was the only one to show sustainable growth in terms of value. Capitalising on Egypt’s positive experience, Archos and Uni Group aim to expand across the region creating more subsidiaries in markets they are interested in.
Wiko and Infinix recently launched in Africa and are taking on incumbets such as Samsung, Tecno, Huawei, Microsoft among others.