African mobile social network 2go has announced the launch of its Android app, in a move to grow its predominantly feature phone user base to those who own cheap smart devices as well.

2go offers both anonymous chat rooms and instant messaging services, while its business model relies on income streams such as advertising.

Until the development of the 2go Android app, the service has mainly been available to feature phone users in Africa.

2go has since gone on to reach over 10 million active users, with nine million in Nigeria alone.

2go co-founder Alan Wolff, speaking about 2go’s new Android application, says, “Android is the fastest growing mobile platform across Africa, and with sub-$50 Android devices on the horizon, 2go’s mostly feature phone user base can now migrate with 2go as they move to smartphones.”

Ashley Peter, the other co-founder of 2go, says,“The team spent a long time refining the product to ensure that it matches, and hopefully surpasses the high quality, intuitive user experience of the feature phone version of 2go. We wanted to maintain the same fun social experience, but also create a beautiful product that looks, feels and behaves like a smartphone app.”

According to Brad Taylor, managing director of GfK South Africa, Android phones represent 5.2% of current monthly phone sales in Nigeria, up from 3.4% in September 2012. Taylor notes that this trend is accelerating across Africa.

“In Kenya, which is a more mature Android market, 52% of monthly sales are Android phones,” Taylor has said.