Anthony Goodman: AG Mobile’s ‘born to look after the customer’

The smartphone business is a cut-throat world, where the small fry are usually chewed up and spat out by the baleen whales of the big blue. But sometimes, thanks to luck and what we imagine must be a fair bit of determination, said small fry turn into companies that make a few massive waves in the space themselves.

Although many people in South Africa have not heard of AG Mobile, the company has been around since 2007 in its current guise, and 1994 in its post-natal infancy.

Founded by Anthony Goodman, a South African-born entrepreneur and technology enthusiast, AG Mobile has grown rather impressively and extensively since its relatively timid South African debut last decade.

Within the past year, the company has launched a slew of new devices, most notably the AG Ghost (review) and the AG Style, which is the first device to feature WIFi calling on Cell C’s network. But that’s just skimming the surface.

More is promised too from Goodman, who graciously sat down with us to discuss the rise of his business, the smartphone market in general and the difficulty of birthing a smartphone company in what could easily be one of the most competitive markets in the world.

And if that doesn’t quite pique your interest, we’re also promised great things from the company’s next project in collaboration with chipset manufacturer MediaTek, including new devices and an even broader expansion to markets beyond South African borders.

So for all that and more, have a listen to the special podcast below, and be sure to drop your thoughts in the comments section below.