Microsoft and Huawei launch phone aimed at growing African phone market

NAIROBI, Kenya – Chinese phone maker Huawei and Microsoft are combining forces to sell a new smartphone in Africa, which they say is the world’s fastest growing mobile phone market.

The two companies launched the Huawei 4Afrika Tuesday. The phone runs Windows Phone 8 and comes pre-loaded with applications designed for the African market.

According to the GSM Association, Africa is the world’s second largest mobile market by connections after Asia, and the fastest growing mobile market in the world.

The phone will initially be available in Angola, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa later this month.