Vodacom South Africa, a subsidiary of Vodacom Group, has introduced a cloud-based phone aimed at making smartphone access more affordable and accelerating the shift from legacy networks to modern 4G.
A 2022 report by the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, supported by Vodacom’s parent company, Vodafone Group, emphasized that lowering the cost of devices is essential for increasing smartphone access. For example, the Alliance for Affordable Internet estimates that a smartphone priced at R1,094.24 (US$62/€56) could account for nearly 63% of the average monthly income across Africa. The report recommended exploring affordable thin-client phones, like the new cloud-based device from Vodacom.
This cloud-based phone uses cloud computing to offer key smartphone features at a fraction of the cost. It comes preloaded with popular apps like YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, all accessible via the cloud, delivering a “smartphone lite” experience.
Retailing at just R249 (US$13.93), the phone offers 48MB of RAM, 128MB of storage, a 2.8″ screen, and a 1000mAh battery, making it an accessible option for users looking to upgrade to 4G.
“As smartphone penetration continues to rise, with many South Africans now owning a smartphone, the digital divide remains a challenge, among those who still rely on 2G and 3G networks,” said Davide Tacchino, Managing Executive for Terminals at Vodacom South Africa.
“At Vodacom, we remain committed to bridging the digital divide by providing affordable devices – which explains why we have introduced this cloud-based model to offer lite smartphone benefits to those who traditionally cannot afford them.
“The cloud phone will also help customers still anchored to 2G phones and not familiar with the touch screen experience, allowing them to appreciate a smooth transition to the data and application world.
“As technology continue to evolve, we must stay abreast of evolution, to ensure customers are not left behind. Our cloud-based phone is not just another phone, but a tool that enables access to the digital ecosystem.
“Through greater collaboration between governments, mobile operators and everyone across the value chain, we believe we can make strides to work together to lower 4G-enabled smartphones prices.”
Over the last decade, Vodacom has remained committed to bringing the cost of devices down through many initiatives launched in partnership with Vodafone. This included the launch of Vodacom branded device units, driving smartphone penetration in a number of Vodacom markets, including South Africa.
