Bethel Communications last night unveiled itself as Astro Zimbabwe the company behind the Ibho range of Android smart phones at an event in Harare. Although the company has been active in the market for a little over a year now, this launch event was to unveil the Astro Brand and a host of mobile devices they are bringing into the market.
The Company was founded by Munyaradzi Gwatidzo and he is the Current C.E.O.
Astro unveiled all their devices including the entry level Ibho Y and medium range Ibho T. Their only premium phone is the Astro Virtual which retails for $333. They also introduced an 8” Android 4.1.2 phablet they call the Astro Funbook that costs $399. Techzim hasn’t yet had a chance to get a feel of any of devices but a detailed review will follow as soon as we get our hands on them.
But it is clear that Astro/Ibho will be competing in the low cost android device space currently dominated by G-tel. Astro, like G-tel will be pushing it’s devices through credit sales and it has lined up First Tel Cellular, Nano Appliances and OK Mark as their distribution partners.
Astro also announced a host of apps they have developed that come standard with their devices. For example they said they have developed a Shona Bible app to make their devices more useful to the 95% Christian population in Zimbabwe. Another app Astro says it has developed is the “Astro Planner” which is a customised planner for the Zimbabwean market.
Astro Zimbabwe CEO also introduced the “Astro Box” a small device that turns your TV into a computer. We did not quite understand how this one works but it’s due for release on 15 December 2013. Other devices like the Astro Virtual Pro and a kids tablet they are calling a “Kidlet” will be also released within the coming weeks.
Astro Zimbabwe has been rumoured to be financially backed by Nigel Chanakira, the founder of Kingdom Financial Holdings. Although Astro Officials who spoke to Techzim denied this link, the active presence of Nigel Chanakira at the event will undoubtedly fuel these rumours. It’s been however confirmed that Munyaradzi Gwatidzo is mentored by Nigel Chanakira. Speaking at the event, Nigel Chanakira also backed the company to go international and list on the New York Stock Exchange.
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8 comments
Having been at the event, I notice that you omitted a prominent matter: they also launched the Astro Pro phablet.
Sayy what….. wondering what this is: ‘ a customised planner for the Zimbabweans’
$333 its too much…. comparing with existing brands (Samsung) and upcoming brands(Gtel) which are doing very well in the market. They should consider pricing as their best selling point
Its good that they have started doing business and all, but sheesh that brand/logo/image is under-powered in execution and relevance to the tech products they are promoting.
Am i the only one who sees the astro logo as a gigantic flop, or a work in progress at best, the astro website is even worse than the logo…
Come on Zimbabwe, lets get these basics right!
do not buy it’s a waste of money go to gtel. At 300 you can get your huawei ascend 5 or the latest fallacy a3 –
Why iam saying so:
1 they can display fake specs of their devices on the box eg android 4.4(kitkat) 2014 but yu’ll discover. that it’s an android 2.2.3(gingerbread)2011
2A 5 mp astro device. (based on my inhibit pro y2) is too. poor as compared to my ascend p6(2013)
3Poor cooling system. …their devices boils 43degreess like a single core device does (based on my android system
I RECOMMEND GTEL FOR LOCAL PRODUCTS
my email for more meinradsocial@gmail.com
do not buy it’s a waste of money go to gtel. At 300 you can get your huawei ascend 5 or the latest gallaxy a3 –
Why iam saying so:
1 they can display fake specs of their devices on the box eg android 4.4(kitkat) 2014 but yu’ll discover. that it’s an android 2.2.3(gingerbread)2011
2A 5 mp astro device. (based on my inhibit pro y2) is too. poor as compared to my ascend p6(2013)
3Poor cooling system. …their devices boils 43degreess like a single core device does (based on my android system
I RECOMMEND GTEL FOR LOCAL PRODUCTS
my email for more meinradsocial@gmail.com
Kutenga ku astro kutambisa mari yako nokuti phone ikafa hakuna maspare parts. Ndakatenga x3 astro last year ikaputsika lcd but kubva muna november 2015 ndiri kufona ku astro byo ne astro gweru vachingoti maspare parts haasati avuya. Kutaura kudai x3 yangu itori mubag ndakatoneta nazvo. ko munombotengeserei zvinhu zvisina maparts? Itai serious mhani imwi.
I bought my Astro V2 2 years back and its still functioning well, no probs at all…liking the brand keep it up Astro mobile