Intel and iHub to Support Mobile App Development in Africa through Tech Hubs

Danie Steyn Intel General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) a world leader in computing innovation company that designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices, is to partner with African tech hubs, The partnership is mainly aimed at fostering developer community especially when it comes to mobile app development.

This comes just in less than a month after the launch of Intel Yolo smart phone that runs on the android platform and an intel mobile chip. On the 27 of January 2013 Intel entered into an agreement with business incubator iHub to foster and grow the developer community in Africa through targeted investments in mobile app development, online developer resources, university training programs, device seeding programs and expansion of technology hubs.

“The software development scene in Africa is active but still nascent, we’re excited to partner with Intel to grow it”, said Erik Hersman the MD at iHub.

iHub will work with 10 universities in Kenya, and host 30 events targeted at software associations, independent software vendors and in the first year.

Below is a press release from the company:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS ·        Intel and iHub to foster and grow the developer community in Africa through targeted investments in mobile app development
·        Intel will also collaborate with select universities in Africa to enhance developers’ ability to create rich user experiences on Android devices based on Intel technology
 NAIROBI, Kenya, 27^th February 2013 - Intel has entered into an agreement with business incubator iHub to foster and grow the developer community in Africa through targeted investments in mobile app development, online developer resources, university training programs, device seeding programs and expansion of technology hubs.
 iHub catalyzes the tech community in Kenya and has evolved into a space with over 10,000 members.  The model set by iHub has been used to start more than 30 other tech hubs across Africa, and enjoys a leadership role in the continent due to its size and relationship with the other hubs.  Being a tech space, iHub is able to offer thought leadership in areas of mobile technology and its use. In Kenya, the company will provide broadly available developer training through iHub and Intel’s Developer Zone, an online developer resource that enables the creation and porting of Android apps.  Intel will also distribute Intel Android devices to the tech hubs, and will collaborate with select universities across the continent to enhance the ability of developers to create rich user experiences on Intel hardware with Android.
 Danie Steyn, general manager of Intel East Africa, said the company’s goal was to enable applications from Africa for the Android market place in 2013, with the primary areas of focus being education, rich media, and gaming.
 “Our engagement will not only be around educating the developer community, but we’ll also run a series of hackathons across Africa network in partnership with iHub,” said Steyn. “We’re extremely excited about the growing developer engagement in Africa, and we’re deeply committed to helping the African software ecosystem grow and thrive.”
“The software development scene in Africa is active but still nascent, we’re excited to partner with Intel to grow it”, said Erik Hersman the MD at iHub.iHub will work with 10 universities in Kenya, and host 30 events targeted at software associations, independent software vendors and in the first year.