The Huawei IDEOS is turning out to be the most anticipated phone in the Kenyan market. Rumours and "information from very reliable sources" have been appearing in various online forums and blogs about the availability and the pricing of the Android 2.2 powered device.
The rumours started immediately Huawei announced that together with Google, they were working on a Froyo (Andorid 2.2) during the Internationale Funkaustellung (IFA) trade show in Berlin early September. What this means is that the phone was designed under the supervision of Google and would have high expectations. Huawei announced the phone would be retailing at between $100 and $200.

Immediately after the announcement by Huawei, one of Kenya's leading business publication published an article detailing that the IDEOS had been launched by Safaricom at Kshs. 8,000 (US $ 100) and was (would be available) at Safaricom shops. This was soon replicated by most Kenyan bloggers spreading like bush fire.

A reliable source in Huawei confirms that the phone is yet to arrive in the country, though was expected any time in the next 1 - 2 weeks. Our source also adds that the retail price is yet to be confirmed though still falls within the $100 - $200 bracket given by Huawei. Industry analysts though have been saying that the slated retail price in the country would be Kshs. 12,000 (US $ 150). Huawei's traditional business model in this market is to offer phones via carriers and this will most likely be the case with the IDEOS, with various analysts hinting at Safaricom carrying the phone. Other network operators in the country have not indicated any plans to carry the phone.

Safaricom CEO , Michael Joseph has been quoted severally saying that the market needed an afforsable Smart phone for the masses and the IDEOS would likely fit this bill. Google seems to have had the same in mind when it departed from their traditional partners, HTC and Motorola and choose Huawei who specialise in low end phones.

Charles Sewe, a developer with Mzoori says that Google has been frustrated by the behaviour of US and European countries who are keen on departing the open Android ideology Google has been pushing. This include plans by Verizon to start their own Android app store and other actions such as setting Bing as the default search option in some Android phones. Google is thus seeking to expand its presence in the Asian and African market thus making the android market big enough for the few operators seeking to operate it in a closed ecosystem.

T-Mobile, the American mobile carrier affiliated with Germany's Deutsche-Mobile has also expressed interest in carrying the IDEOS in its network.

Will this be the first phone that will draw queues in Kenya similar to iPhone launched in developed countries? This will remain to be seen as the IDEOS much awaited debut nears.