Loy Okezie
It seems 2011 would usher in a ‘tablet war’ as Starcomms, the largest CDMA mobile operator in Nigeria has introduced a tablet PC called ‘myPad’.
In a twitter update posted yesterday, Starcomms said:
Starcomms introduces its first ever mobile one-stop shop for all your internet and PC needs (myPad) for just N74,999…
myPad is powered by Android 2.2 Operating System and innovatively designed as a high-end data device for the upwardly mobile.
According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari (pictured above holding the myPad), the introduction of the device is timely in this convergence era and is therefore in line with Starcomms’ passion in ensuring that its customers have access to innovative products and the service that keeps them in tune with technological trends.
For now, myPad is only available in Nigeria on the Starcomms network.
The device boasts of several entertainment applications for music and games with free downloadable games.
Specs and Accessories
myPad has a wider screen of 10.2 inches which means that the device is slightly wider than Apple’s iPad with 9.7 inches and the 7-inch Encipher inye.
Starcomms myPad comes with a 10-gigabyte memory that can be expanded to 64 gigabytes, 2 USB and LAN ports, an HDMI out and a 2.0 mega pixel webcam, a user friendly manual and a battery charger as well as an optional branded luxury leather case carrier.
Price
With an introductory offer of N74,999 (about $499), the Starcomms myPAD comes with a bundled offer of free i-Zap Internet Router that connects up to five users and three months Internet.
Without the router and Internet access, myPad sells at a price of N54,999 (about $399).
Thoughts
Although I’m yet to get a feel of myPad, I have a feeling that the device would be worth it.
But wait, isn’t ‘myPad’ the name of a Windows smartphone with a 5-inch touch screen?
Oh I even saw a photo advertising the Starcomms myPad with a picture showing Apple’s app icons. Quite hilarious! [See below]
But while we’re still envisaging the success of the Encipher inye (INYE 2 is coming in Q1 2011), and the official release of another tablet called Ovim in January 2011, it’s very interesting to see more companies taking interest in tablet devices for the Nigerian market.
There’s even a rumour that VEDA Technology could be working on a tablet to be released next year.
In my opinion, tablet PCs would still have a low-penetration rate in the next 5 years as the consumer market in Nigeria is not ready for such devices.
For example, the Blackberry was first introduced in 2006 by Globacom Nigeria, but after 4 years in Nigeria, the smartphone has only about 100,000 active users on 4 mobile networks.
However, there are indications that tablet PCs would become very popular and eventually a million dollar market in the future as the mobile penetration rate in Nigeria continues to grow.
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13 Responses to Tablet War Looms As Starcomms Unveils 10-inch Android-Powered Tablet, myPad
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You beat me to it! Still, I’ll write my tablet piece. Merry Christmas.
You know, we need to reach the point where these companies send test units to StartUps Nigeria, Naija Tech Guide and Digital Crossings as part of their integrated marketing strategy.
Haha…wud love to read your perspective though:) Will push Tushar an email about this now. Cheers!
I second Dejo’s point
Has anyone used this tablet yet? All indications seems to point to the fact that it is a Chinese clone.
Great thing, that operators are doing grrat stuffs like this. The name sounds like a clone, eg nokia and nokla. Mypad and ipad.
They would have been more creative with the name.
But lets see what the tab market would do. I’ve got mh eyes on the ovim tablet. Most def may be picking one.
I “3rd” Dejo’s point.
I saw the “myPad” yesterday.
Well, I didn’t see specs for the knowledgeable consumer. RAM, Processor type/speed, type of touch screen, battery life, connectivity (CDMA or just WiFi?, GPS?, bluetooth?). This is just mentioning a few. Only helpful detail there is that its running Android 2.1
o.k review, but believe it or not, you do have some “geeks” reading these reviews.
First of all the mypad I saw does not have 2.2.
Secondly, the blackberry is the highest selling smartphone in *NG*,everybody I know has a blackberry and half of those that I don’t know have one also, so I don’t understand why u used it as an example.
The mypad is a cheap chinese ipad knock off, sells for about $120, very slow and fustrating to use. I won’t advice my enemy to invest his hard earned cash on one
The use of blackberry as an example is basically to show how the market penetration for such devices is quite low.
That said, it doesn\’t rule out the fact that it can\’t become the highest selling smartphone in Nigeria.
Just got some new infor from Starcomms Customer Care
It comes with Android 2.1 (upgradable) but no info on when
This Model is WIFI only
It has a Stylus, so there is 90% probability that it is Resistive Screen not Capacitive.
It has HDMI and micro sd slot.
It will have access to the Android Market (I find it hard to believe)
It has 256MB RAM
It has a 2MP front facing camera only (am surprised it has no camera at the back)
No info on Processor.
Their main marketing point was that “it comes with wifi router and izap plus 250hrs for 3months which you can share to 5devices, and these would have cost you 40,000naira.
my pad is a “china” tablet
I don't like the overall look of this tablet if we compare it to others as a design point of view. Other than that it has great attributes and faster performance. Some of the good features and better app that would make this tablet a good bet.