Safaricom has launched the Webbox, a device that connects to TV sets and allows browsing of Internet from the TV sets . The device has made an appearnce in Safaricom stores in the last few days. Webbox has however been launched in markets outside Kenya, starting with South Africa ,by Vodafone. Vodafone is Safaricom's biggest shareholder after shares previously held by Kenya's government were floated in the stock exchange.
Webbox connects to TV sets using the RCA connector, the usually red, white and yellow connector used to connect DVD and video cassette players to TV sets. The Webbox consists of a standard Qwerty keyboard with a SIM card slot underneath the device and some smartphone elemnets.
The device has been under tests for several months in Kenya as Safaricom reserached whether the EDGE connectivity the device provides would be sufficient. At the moment the Webbox does not support 3G connectivity.

Webbox is manufactured by Huawei for Vodafone and comes fitted with a minimal version of Android 2.1 . The device however is incapable of downloading applications from the Android Market. Browsing is through a minimised version of Opera Mini. Also preloaded are games, mail applications and a personal calendar application. Webbox also allows sending and receiving of SMS.

Internet on the Webbox is billed at standard Safaricom bundle rates. Recharging and purchase of bundles is done via a preloaded application.

Webbox will be sold for KES 5,000 bundled with 200 MB of data. More information about the device is available at http://safaricom.co.ke/index.php?id=1455. Vodafone also appears to have a newer verison of the Webbox that supports 3G , has a document viewer and high definition output to TVs.