Leading telecommunications operator Etisalat has launched the YotaPhone 2, a dual-screen smartphone, in the UAE.

It is being made available at competitive prepaid and post-paid plans to its customers, said a estaminet.

Customers will be able to own the device in a two-month exclusivity deal before it hits the markets.

Available in black colour, the all-new YotaPhone 2 handset is free on an 18-month contract plan for Dh250 ($68) with 1GB data and 100 flexi minutes or for Dh400 per month with 10GB data and 300 minutes.

Alternatively, prepaid customers can choose to buy the YotaPhone 2 device at Dh2,999 on 12-month package to get 1GB monthly data for Dh99 with the first month free of rental charges. Flexi-minutes can be used for local, international and incoming roaming calls.

The phone features an Amoled Full HD screen on one side and an e-ink electronic paper display on the other, making it the only dual-screen smartphone in the world.

YotaPhone 2 is made by Russian smartphone manufacturer Yota Devices. The five-inch display can be used like a normal Android phone, while the rear 4.7-inch display features ever-present notifications without draining the phone battery.

The gently curved E Ink display is readable in direct sunlight and has fun and easy personalisation options and 8Mpix camera provides great photos.

Khaled El Khouly, chief marketing officer at Etisalat, said: “We are excited to introduce the successor to the popular YotaPhone device which was well received by our trend-setting mobile customers when we launched in earlier this year.

“At Etisalat, we consciously team up with innovators to bring exclusive opportunities to our customers to own new types of handsets ahead of others in the market. Together with our new value-packed postpaid and prepaid options, and nation-wide mobile network and coverage benefit, this is an amazing deal for our customers.”

Vlad Martynov, chief executive officer of Yota Devices, said: “The Middle East is one of the key markets for YotaPhone and it is important for us to expand our strategic focus and market commitment by investing to have a local presence.

“The company’s Middle East presence shows that we are strongly committed to provide innovation and mobile advancement through the local offering of YotaPhone ahead of other key markets in the world. We believe our technology constitutes an entirely new species of mobile device, not just by integrating a power efficient electronic paper display but by making two screens work in harmony.” - TradeArabia News Service