While that can significantly expand their potential audience, it often comes at the cost of shared revenues and more limitedaccess to data about their customers.
The African market is currently making the switch from feature phones with limiteddataaccess, to low-cost smartphones that provide far greater access to the internet and web services.
According to Gibbs, Obama will be able to keep his BlackBerry, though only a limited number of senior staff and personal contacts will have access to his email address, and the data on the handheld will be subject to the Presidential Records Act.