Safaricom on Monday became the first retailer in East Africa to launch the Samsung Galaxy S4. We are still wondering how they managed to pull it off since the rumors that Bharti Airtel’s owning a two month exclusivity on the sale of the GS4 with Samsung. Our sources confirm that the Bharti Group signed an MoU with Samsung to sale the GS4, this means that no other telecom operator should sale the GS4 within that period.
The launch held at Safaricom’s Street retail outlet, where the firm also handed out the device to customers who had made the pre-order. Customers who made pre-orders even in Airtel were able to acquire the device at KSh. 58,000 ($ 692), a
Ksh. 7,000 ($ 84) discount from Safaricom’s current offer of KSh. 65,000.($776). The phone had a pre-order period, the first in East Africa, that saw 70 customers make pre-orders.
The Galaxy S4 is Samsung’s flagship device, succeeding the Galaxy SIII, with a larger screen but a slimmer body.Accident damage and handling (ADH) protection will see those buying the phone get it repaired at no cost if they shatter their screen or immerse it in fluid. ADH is redeemable twice in a 24 month period.
UPDATE: Our sources have informed us that Airtel Uganda will launch the GS4 this week.
