T400 mobile phone, manufactured by Tecno, China, 2010-2012.

This mobile phone was bought in Bamenda, Cameroon, in 2012. Branded imports, like this phone produced by Tecno, were mass produced in factories with quality control checks, making them more reliable than counterfeits which were also commonly available for sale. They also competed with imported phones from well known brands such as Nokia or Motorola. Tecno was a mobile phone brand established to directly target African users. Their phones accommodated the specific needs of Cameroonian users, with space for at least two SIM cards. This was an important feature in areas where network coverage was poor and varied between network providers