Local mobile operator Vodacom has launched a new R800 entry-level smartphone called the Vodafone Smart Mini.

This Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) operating handset boasts a 3.5" HVGA (320 x 480; 165 ppi pixel density) TFT capacitive touchscreen. Powering the Smart Mini (115 x 62.3 x 12.2 mm; 118 g) is a single-core MTK 6575 chipset running at 1 GHz that is coupled with 512 MB RAM.

Also onboard is Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, Wi-Fi 802.11 n, a two megapixel camera, HSDPA connectivity and an FM radio. Buyers also receive 4 GB worth of internal storage for apps, games, as well as multimedia content that can be expanded by as much as 32 GB via a microSD memory card slot.

This affordable smartphone is now available at Vodacom World in Midrand as well as from other participating outlets nationwide. Contract customers can get the mobile on a Top Up 135 plus contract for R149 per month over 24 months. They will receive two Vodafone Smart Mini handsets as well as R135 worth of airtime, 100 MB of data per month and a free prepaid Starter pack for the second phone.

To the point

Enzo Scarcella, managing executive of Postpay at Vodacom said: “We currently have over 6 million smartphones on our network which represents 20% of our South African customer base. This presents a huge potential for customers to migrate from feature phones to smartphones and the Vodafone Smart Mini is a perfect phone for that – it’ll introduce a new wave of customers to the smartphone experience.”

“We will continue to work with Vodafone to introduce low cost smartphones and also partner with manufacturers to drive costs of smartphones down. With the launch of the Vodafone Smart Mini we’re continuing with our focus of putting the power of the internet in the hands of our customers,” Scarcella concluded.

For further info customers can contact Vodacom customer care on 111 free from a Vodacom phone or 082 111 from any other phone or send an e-mail to customercare@vodacom.co.za.

In related news, Vodacom also recently revealed that the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active and S4 Mini smartphones, as well as the S4 Zoom cameraphone are all now available at Vodacom World in Midrand and other participating stores nationwide.