TORONTO – Chip maker Intel and communications provider Safaricom Limited have teamed up to release a cost-conscious smartphone called Yolo for consumers in Kenya.
The phone will be Intel’s first in the African smartphone market and is aimed at first-time buyers who are looking for a less expensive smartphone option.
“We’re redefining what cost-conscious Kenyans can expect from a smartphone,” said the general manager of Safaricom’ s Consumer Business Unit Peter Arina in a press release. “The Intel-based Yolo smartphone strikes a unique balance between price and performance – we consider it to be a real breakthrough.”
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The phone, which launched earlier this month at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, has 1080p HD video capturing capabilities and will give users access to Android applications.
But the phone seems to be attracting a lot of attention in North America thanks to its name.
“YOLO,” which stands for “You Only Live Once,” is an acronym made famous by Canadian rapper Drake first used in his 2011 song “The Motto.”
The rapper spoke out on Twitter in December 2012 after companies like Walgreens and Macy’s began selling merchandise with the term printed on it.
“Walgreens… you gotta either chill or cut the cheque,” he posted with an Instagramed photo of YOLO baseball hats in one of the chain’s stores. He later posted a similar photo of products in a Macy’s store.
Drake has not yet commented on the Intel smartphone’s name.
Yolo will be sold at Safaricom shops starting at 10,999 Kenyan Shillings (or about $125 U.S.) and will be bundled with 500 MB of free data.
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