This post was inspired by the event I attended earlier today. Tech Bloggers Round-table, powered by Jumia, is an interactive session between representatives of various OEM’s and top tech bloggers. We took out time to access what a typical Nigerian wants from his mobile phone, and here was my humble opinion.
By the term, ‘typical’ I mean, that dude in living in your neighbourhood or area. Maybe educated or not, a worker or hustler in the street looking to earn his daily bread, probably with little or no prior knowledge in anything tech. You get my point now.
Affordable: The very first port of call is the price. “Na how much?” is the typical question you get. If your device is not cheap or affordable (value for money), just forget it . Unless you plan to sell only small volumes of your product. Truth be told, the best sellers in this country are the cheap devices.
Sleek and beautiful: Your phone has to be sleek and beautiful. Slim or anyhow you quantify it. A typical Nigerian man’s phone has to appeal to the eyes (at least to his own). Our ladies can also testify to this-No one wants to be seen (in public) carrying an ugly thick rectangular slab.
Camera: Gradually, people are starting to like taking pictures from their mobiles, so an OEM offering should at least give us decent pics before it can be deemed acceptable. If your phone can’t produce clear manageable pictures, just forget it.
Long Battery Life: People are really beginning to recognize the need for good battery life. The power situation here is not helping matters and thankfully OEM’s are responding to this. We have the likes of Gionee, Infinix, and Lenovo, recently pushing out mobiles with 4000mAh and above.
After Sales Support: An OEM should be able to provide reliable after sales support to cater for damages, and other related issues. After all, the phone (or its service) is enjoyed after the phone is purchased.
Finally, in my honest opinion, an OEM that manages to strike a balance between price, good battery life, and sleek design, then you’ve just captured the heart of a typical Nigerian. I hope the OEM’s are seeing this.