The device, known as the Cube Phone, combines free business-focused internet access, a built-in contactless payment system, and a suite of AI-powered enterprise tools into a single Android handset priced at ₦240,000 ($150). The product is scheduled for launch on April 28, with nationwide rollout planned through Egoras retail outlets.
The initiative targets a major gap in Nigeria’s economy, where digital adoption among small businesses remains low. Of roughly 40 million micro and small enterprises, fewer than eight percent currently accept digital payments, leaving the majority of transactions cash-based despite rapid growth in fintech services.
According to Egoras CEO Ugoji Harry, the company’s strategy is focused on removing the structural barriers that prevent merchants from going digital, rather than competing directly in the saturated smartphone market.
At the core of the offering is a zero-rated connectivity agreement with Airtel, enabling all activity on the CubeOS platform—including payments, applications, and AI features—to run without data charges. This eliminates a recurring expense that typically costs small businesses between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000 monthly, potentially accelerating adoption among cost-sensitive users.
Beyond connectivity, the Cube Phone functions as a payment terminal. Each unit comes with 100 contactless Cube Cards—battery-free NFC cards designed for long-term use—allowing merchants to accept payments without requiring customers to own smartphones or install apps. Transactions are completed using a simple password system.
Egoras is betting on rapid network expansion through this model, projecting one million devices and up to 100 million cards in circulation within the first year. The approach is designed to create a self-reinforcing ecosystem, where each new user expands the network and drives further adoption.
The phone also integrates an AI Business Suite, offering tools such as contract drafting, financial tracking, workflow automation, and basic human resource management. To improve accessibility, the platform supports multiple local languages, including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Pidgin.
In a departure from conventional cloud-based systems, Egoras said all data and AI processing are encrypted and stored directly on the device using blockchain-based architecture, reducing reliance on centralized servers. This design is intended to address growing concerns around data privacy and sovereignty among small business owners.
The Cube Phone enters a competitive landscape that includes fintech players like Moniepoint and OPay, as well as hardware manufacturers such as Tecno Mobile and Itel Mobile. However, Egoras is positioning its device as a full-stack solution that integrates hardware, payments, connectivity, and AI into a single platform.
The company added that it is in talks with other telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria and Globacom, to expand zero-rated access beyond Airtel’s network.
For Airtel, the partnership could deepen enterprise engagement and strengthen its competitive position in a price-sensitive market. For Egoras, the success of the Cube Phone will hinge on adoption, trust, and its ability to sustain the zero-cost model.
If widely adopted, the device could accelerate Nigeria’s transition to digital commerce, potentially compressing years of gradual fintech growth into a single product cycle and redefining how small businesses operate in Africa’s largest economy.