TMCnet News
Acer's Intel-chip smartphone debuts [Bangkok Post, Thailand](Bangkok Post (Thailand) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 01--Acer, the world's fourth-largest computer maker, has chosen Thailand as the first country to introduce its first Intel-chip smartphone in a bid to expand its footprint and increase market share here. The Taipei-based firm yesterday introduced the Liquid C1 in Thailand using a new version of Intel Corp's Atom processor. The phone, costing 9,990 baht, has a 4.3-inch touchscreen and an 8-megapixel camera. The Atom Z2420-powered device is being debuted in Thailand as part of its push to expand in Southeast Asia. Nitipat Praweenwongwuthi, senior marketing manager of Acer Computer, said sales of smartphones in Thailand are expected to exceed 6 million units this year, fuelled mainly by the imminent launch of full commercial third-generation (3G) mobile services. "We believe the mid-tier smartphone priced 9,000 to 15,000 baht will be a high-growth area this year with strong competition," he said. The entry-level smartphone priced below 5,000 baht dominates the country's smartphone market with a 40% share. Mr Nitipat acknowledged that Acer has a small share of Thailand's smartphone market as it is a recent entrant to the sector. He said Acer still has an opportunity to gain market share because consumers have no loyalty to any brand and smartphones have only a 12-18-month life cycle. Acer will focus more on 3G-enabled and dual-SIM smartphones to capitalise on growing demand. "We aim to have up to 10% market share this year," said Mr Nitipat. Acer earlier announced that it intended to boost smartphone sales to 5 million units in 2014 from 500,000 last year. The company is also targeting the mobile-device market as consumers shun PCs for tablets. Accharas Ouysinprasert, the country manager of Intel Microelectronics (Thailand), said mobile phones have become the primary device people use to access the internet. The Liquid C1 handset is the ninth Atom model to be introduced worldwide in the past nine months as Intel seeks to cut its reliance on making chips for the shrinking PC market. Intel has less than 1% of the market for phone processors compared with more than 80% of the PC chip market. ___ (c)2013 the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at www.bangkokpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |