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Obi Mobiles launches new smartphones in Mideast [TradeArabia](TradeArabia Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Obi Mobiles, a new technology brand co-founded by veteran marketer and former Apple CEO John Sculley, has unveiled five new devices earmarked for the Middle East market. The range of mobile devices that go on sale today (October 1) include Obi's flagship five-inch octa-core smartphone, the Octopus S520; the Hornbill S551; the Falcon S451; the Wolverine S501; and a power bank feature phone, F240, said a statement. Jumbo Electronics has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for Obi Mobiles in the region and it will manage distribution across all channels in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq markets, it said. Obi Mobiles is a new venture launched by Sculley's Toronto-based Investment and Acquisition Company, Inflexionpoint. The brand marked its global launch in India earlier this year. Targeted at the large population of young and trendy smartphone users, Obi devices were well received in the sub-continent. It is now focusing on accelerating its international ambitions, starting with the Middle East markets and aims to expand to Africa and South America in the coming months. "Smartphone penetration in many parts of the world is seeing staggered growth, with consumers exploring options or delaying purchases due to the high cost of investment," said Sculley. "While smartphone growth figures in emerging markets, soaring at +32 per cent CAGR, look promising, we believe there is scope for doubling the growth by increasing accessibility in the market through aggressive pricing and a strong pipeline of products. At Obi, we believe in building global brands and effective partnerships to channel our products to the right target groups," he said. Vishesh Bhatia, chief executive officer at Jumbo said: "We are excited to be partnering with Obi, a brand that has been co-founded by John Sculley, one of the most influential marketers in the world. Our campaign to achieve Obi's growth targets in the region will kick-off with a special showcase at Gitex Shopper this year, and be carried forward through dedicated sales and marketing strategies in target markets in the region." The Octopus S520 features the latest Android Kit Kat 4.4 operating system, powered by a 1.7-GHz Octa Core processor, a full-aluminum back cover, a sleek 8.4-mm form factor and a capacitive five-inch HD IPS touch screen. It also boasts an eight-MP camera with lightning flash, delivering every image at a 1280 X 720 HD display resolution. The Obi Falcon S451 is a five-inch smartphone, with an IPS qHD Screen, and featuring an eight-MP auto focus camera that rotates 206 degrees, and also offers dual flash for perfect imaging even in low light conditions. It runs on a 1.3 GHz Dual Core Processor, with 4GB ROM and 1GB RAM, and is powered by a strong 2200 mAH Lithium battery. The 5.5-inch Obi Hornbill S551 weighs just 145 grams, making it an ergonomically superior option for smartphone users. It operates on Android KitKat v4.4.2, powered by an MTK, MT6582 1.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor. The Obi Wolverine S501 is also a five-inch smartphone featuring Android KitKat 4.4, powered by a 1.2GHz Dual Core Processor, with 1GB RAM and 4GB expandable memory. It is also designed with a Rear Key that utilises the index finger's natural position to control volume, lock the screen and switch off the phone. It features a five-MP flash-enabled camera, and front VGA camera and dual sim. The Obi F240 is a feature phone, equipped with a high capacity 3000mAH battery, and a convenient power bank option to recharge other mobile devices. The handy device also offers essential mobile functionality, including a 0.3-MP primary camera, loudspeaker, Bluetooth, as well as dual sim (GSM + GSM) capabilities. Amit Rupchandani, managing director for the Mena region at Obi Mobiles has confirmed that Obi plans to unveil a steady pipeline of top quality mobile devices for the Middle East market. "We are working with a team of professional designers in the US to build the Obi portfolio, and will be adding a number of exciting new models to the range in 2015, which will be available at aggressive price points determined by market trends," he added. - TradeArabia News Service ? (c) 2014 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |