Emblaze Mobile Ltd., the handset design and
manufacturing house and member of the Emblaze Group (LSE: BLZ), will
today announce at GSM Africa an exclusive distribution agreement with
Blue Tech Africa, a mobile device and connectivity technology
distribution company, which will see its handsets introduced to key
African markets during 2006.
BlueTech will provide a total solution covering; warehousing and logistics, inventory management coupled with next day delivery, handset customisation, and management of online sales and fulfillment throughout Africa.
According to Yankee Group, by end of 2005 Africa's total Mobile installed base will reach over 85 Million subscribers and is expected to grow to over 100 Million in 2006. The total handset sales this year are 21 million and expected to grow to just under 26 million devices by end of 2006 (99% of them are GSM/GPRS devices).
The new portfolio has been developed for a need but designed for a lifestyle and amongst those to be supplied by BlueTech will be the Desire 20, Sting10 and Sting 6 phones from Emblaze Mobile's product range. (http://www.emblazemobile.com/products.asp).
Simon Pollack, Vice President Sales, Emblaze Mobile said: "Africa is a rapidly growing market and has become the first continent to have more mobile phone users than fixed-line subscribers and as these users have become increasingly sophisticated and the market expanded, mobile users are looking for mobile phones that suit their changing needs.
"Emblaze supports Blue Tech Africa's vision of customer segmentation and differentiation and its innovative approach which we believe will deliver success. We are delighted to be working with them and confident that they will drive sales of our stylish and dynamic products, whilst creating new and exciting opportunities."
Andre Ellis, Managing Director, Blue Tech Africa, said: "Blue Tech firmly believes that the manufacture of generic "for all" devices is a thing of the past. Catering for specific market segments and creating differentiation will be essential in the development of any manufacturers product range going forward.
"Emblaze understands this developing requirement, the benefit to consumer and the significant commercial opportunity. As such we are extremely excited about working with Emblaze to develop the African market with propositions that will most certainly challenge conformity"
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Africa has become the world's fastest-growing mobile phone market. Over the past five years the continent's mobile phone use has increased at an annual rate of 65 percent, which is twice the global average.
About The Emblaze Group (Emblaze LTD)
Emblaze Ltd is a group of companies sharing a common mission to provide telecom operators with technologies, products and solutions for next generation services: Emblaze Mobile, a new breed in handsets design and manufacturing; Adamind (LSE: ADA), a global leader in content adaptation (transcoding) for wireless operators; Visual Defence (LSE: VDI), a provider of wireless and IP video solutions for military and homeland security markets; Emblaze VCON, is a leading provider of wireless video communications technologies and conferencing solutions for operators and enterprise markets over IP networks and Orca Interactive (LSE: ORCA), provider of Interactive Television IPTV middleware for Video On Demand (VOD) and broadcast services, aimed at Telecom, cable and xDSL operators.
Emblaze Group is traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BLZ) since 1996 and has offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Korea and Israel. www.Emblaze.com
About Emblaze Mobile
Emblaze Mobile was founded in 2001. It is headquartered in London with operating facilities in Israel as well as design and production capabilities in Korea. It is part of Emblaze group of companies which share a common mission to provide Telecom operators with technologies, products and solutions for next generation services. Emblaze Mobile produces media-rich handsets with sophisticated voice and data solutions that are individual, cool and stylish. Emblaze Mobile knows that its customers are sophisticated individuals who have busy lifestyles, and need multimedia devices which are precisely tailored, simple, stylish and versatile to meet their different and constantly changing needs. These innovative devices offer operators the ability to provide additional value-added services and a richer, even more intuitive, multimedia experience. www.EmblazeMobile.com
About BlueTech
Blue Tech Africa (Pty) Ltd is a mobile device and connectivity technology distribution company head-quartered in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. Established in 2005 to respond to the burgeoning digital opportunity within the African market, The Company's mission is to be a leader in marketing, sales, distribution and after-sales support of high value-added electronic and digital products that fulfill and exceed consumer's needs and expectations. Whilst it is understood that the market we entered has multiple well established players, our raison d'etre is to challenge the status with innovative technologies whilst continuing to eliminate barriers to technology adoption by the consumer.
The company is a subsidiary of the Managed Enterprises Incorporated group - based in Essex, United Kingdom. The financial strength and organisational experience of the group provide Blue Tech Africa with a strong base to grow from. During the next two years the business is planning to establish three additional companies across the continent to act as geographical centres for service delivery to the relevant region. These companies will be based in Kenya (East Africa), Egypt and Nigeria (West Africa).
BlueTech will provide a total solution covering; warehousing and logistics, inventory management coupled with next day delivery, handset customisation, and management of online sales and fulfillment throughout Africa.
According to Yankee Group, by end of 2005 Africa's total Mobile installed base will reach over 85 Million subscribers and is expected to grow to over 100 Million in 2006. The total handset sales this year are 21 million and expected to grow to just under 26 million devices by end of 2006 (99% of them are GSM/GPRS devices).
The new portfolio has been developed for a need but designed for a lifestyle and amongst those to be supplied by BlueTech will be the Desire 20, Sting10 and Sting 6 phones from Emblaze Mobile's product range. (http://www.emblazemobile.com/products.asp).
Simon Pollack, Vice President Sales, Emblaze Mobile said: "Africa is a rapidly growing market and has become the first continent to have more mobile phone users than fixed-line subscribers and as these users have become increasingly sophisticated and the market expanded, mobile users are looking for mobile phones that suit their changing needs.
"Emblaze supports Blue Tech Africa's vision of customer segmentation and differentiation and its innovative approach which we believe will deliver success. We are delighted to be working with them and confident that they will drive sales of our stylish and dynamic products, whilst creating new and exciting opportunities."
Andre Ellis, Managing Director, Blue Tech Africa, said: "Blue Tech firmly believes that the manufacture of generic "for all" devices is a thing of the past. Catering for specific market segments and creating differentiation will be essential in the development of any manufacturers product range going forward.
"Emblaze understands this developing requirement, the benefit to consumer and the significant commercial opportunity. As such we are extremely excited about working with Emblaze to develop the African market with propositions that will most certainly challenge conformity"
According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Africa has become the world's fastest-growing mobile phone market. Over the past five years the continent's mobile phone use has increased at an annual rate of 65 percent, which is twice the global average.
About The Emblaze Group (Emblaze LTD)
Emblaze Ltd is a group of companies sharing a common mission to provide telecom operators with technologies, products and solutions for next generation services: Emblaze Mobile, a new breed in handsets design and manufacturing; Adamind (LSE: ADA), a global leader in content adaptation (transcoding) for wireless operators; Visual Defence (LSE: VDI), a provider of wireless and IP video solutions for military and homeland security markets; Emblaze VCON, is a leading provider of wireless video communications technologies and conferencing solutions for operators and enterprise markets over IP networks and Orca Interactive (LSE: ORCA), provider of Interactive Television IPTV middleware for Video On Demand (VOD) and broadcast services, aimed at Telecom, cable and xDSL operators.
Emblaze Group is traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BLZ) since 1996 and has offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Korea and Israel. www.Emblaze.com
About Emblaze Mobile
Emblaze Mobile was founded in 2001. It is headquartered in London with operating facilities in Israel as well as design and production capabilities in Korea. It is part of Emblaze group of companies which share a common mission to provide Telecom operators with technologies, products and solutions for next generation services. Emblaze Mobile produces media-rich handsets with sophisticated voice and data solutions that are individual, cool and stylish. Emblaze Mobile knows that its customers are sophisticated individuals who have busy lifestyles, and need multimedia devices which are precisely tailored, simple, stylish and versatile to meet their different and constantly changing needs. These innovative devices offer operators the ability to provide additional value-added services and a richer, even more intuitive, multimedia experience. www.EmblazeMobile.com
About BlueTech
Blue Tech Africa (Pty) Ltd is a mobile device and connectivity technology distribution company head-quartered in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. Established in 2005 to respond to the burgeoning digital opportunity within the African market, The Company's mission is to be a leader in marketing, sales, distribution and after-sales support of high value-added electronic and digital products that fulfill and exceed consumer's needs and expectations. Whilst it is understood that the market we entered has multiple well established players, our raison d'etre is to challenge the status with innovative technologies whilst continuing to eliminate barriers to technology adoption by the consumer.
The company is a subsidiary of the Managed Enterprises Incorporated group - based in Essex, United Kingdom. The financial strength and organisational experience of the group provide Blue Tech Africa with a strong base to grow from. During the next two years the business is planning to establish three additional companies across the continent to act as geographical centres for service delivery to the relevant region. These companies will be based in Kenya (East Africa), Egypt and Nigeria (West Africa).
© 2005 Business Wire
