Kenya’s BRCK Launch Delayed Until Next Year

Kenyan technology firm Ushahidi has pushed back the release date of BRCK, an internet device designed by Kenyan technology company Ushahidi to keep people connected to the internet during network downtime, until the first quarter of 2014.

HumanIPO reported in June on the device, which works like a mobile phone and can switch between Wi-FI and 3G when the network for fixed broadband is down.

The BRCK team said the delay in production is due to challenges in obtaining certain key parts to manufacture the planned 2,000 units, which will be priced at US$199 a piece.

“Unfortunately we live in a world where small, African tech companies don’t have the influence to get global component suppliers to meet our delivery deadlines,” the team said in a blog post.