GTel launches new flagship mobile phone

Today we attended a GTel event where the company was launching what will now becoming their flagship device, the A717 Explorer. The new phone is, according to the founder of the company, Chamunorwa Shumba, a phone in the class of Samsung Galaxy S3. We didn’t have the opportunity to feel the actual phone but we will sure review it in the coming days let you know what exactly is on offer for the $395 device.

Like other GTel phones this is dual SIM, which if you’re me, its a big plus over the other regular brands. Being a device in the class of the S3 however means it looks very much like the S3. You can read more about its specs here.

Speaking at the event Shumba said that they have come a long way as a company and working to improve the image of the brand with devices like this one. “We have been trying again to get it right and I think we are getting there. The dual sim phones had a bad tag but today we are launching a quality device” he said.

One interesting announcement made at the launch today is that GTel is working with SIRDC to see if some components of their phones can be manufactured locally. Batteries especially they said as these are a nightmare to import as accessories. We’re not sure just how much more efficient than China cost-wise they’ll be able to do but I guess we can wait and see.

Gtel is, according to an announcement, also made at the event working with PowerTel to have GTel supply devices for Powertel’s CDMA network. Perhaps bringing in a dual mode device that will make it easier for subscribers to have both a regular GSM and a PowerTel SIM in a phone.

Pleasing to note was that the phone has a theme song by local musician of the moment, Winky D. Winky D’s musical piece emphasises the fact that these phones are available to Zimbabweans on terms so friendly anyone should get one. They actually had Winky D performing the song live at the launch. The brand clearly manages to connect with its target market brilliantly in ways that other brands – those ‘genuine’ brands struggling for a foothold in the market – are just failing to.