Microsoft and Brightpoint Announce Partnership to Bring Windows Phone Devices to Middle East and Africa

Microsoft Middle East and Africa has announced an agreement with Brightpoint Middle East FZE to distrubute Windows Phone devices to the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.

The deal will see Brightpoint run the Windows Phone Online Shop which will offer a centralized destination for consumers across the region to purchase a variety of  Windows Phone devices online.

“Smartphone growth is fuelling the worldwide mobile phone market and Windows Phone is poised to lead this trend.” said Gustavo Fuchs, Microsoft Mobility Director, Middle East and Africa. “We are seeing huge Smartphone growth in the region and this is expected to continue with a prediction of 38 percent year on year growth for 2012. The launch of the Windows Phone Online Shop will help fuel the appetite of consumers in the region.”

“We are pleased to continue our long time partnership with Brightpoint, who have been with us since the first version of Windows Mobile and has now embraced Windows Phone as a part of their portfolio. Brightpoint’s wide reach across Middle East and Africa and its globally recognized distribution expertise will ensure consumers will have access to the latest and greatest phones as soon as possible,” added Fuchs.

“We are happy to strengthen further our long term relationship with Microsoft in support of their Windows Phone offering,” said Anurag Gupta, President of Brightpoint Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Our expertise in offering e-commerce and supply chain solutions will enable consumers across Middle East and Africa to purchase Windows Phone devices online to be delivered to their doorstep. We will continue to invest and expand our portfolio of services and footprint in the Middle East and Africa region.”

The Windows Phone Online Shop will be available in English, French, Arabic and Turkish and will include many features to optimise the browsing and shopping experience. In addition to buying Windows Phone units online, visitors will be able to compare different models, read reviews, and watch demo videos to get a good understanding of the product range.  The site’s integrated social media platform will bring people together by letting them make recommendations and share their activities with friends, family and colleagues.

Individual country access to the Windows Phone Online Shop will be rolled out with the first launch set to take place later this year.

The distribution of these Windows Phone 7 handsets come ahead of full support for Right To Left scripts in the region, which is only expected in the second half of 2012, making it somewhat of a surprise.  It does however provide a more convenient route for phone enthusiasts, of which there are many in the region, who do not want to wait so long to get their hands on a new Windows Phone.

Via www.zawya.com