TMCnet News

Smartphone market will grow by 40% [Bangkok Post, Thailand :: ]
[April 18, 2014]

Smartphone market will grow by 40% [Bangkok Post, Thailand :: ]


(Bangkok Post (Thailand) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 19--Thailand's smartphone market will see almost 40% growth this year, fuelled mainly by the skyrocketing number of subscribers migrating to the third-generation (3G) network, says global research firm IDC.



However, the personal computer market is likely to face a contraction of 8% after dropping by 20% in 2013 ? the first fall in 14 years ? with only 3 million units sold.

Satianporn Suvansupa, associate marketing analyst at IDC Thailand, said sales of smartphones are expected to reach 13 million this year despite the political strife.


Consumer digital lifestyles mean replacing a mobile cannot be postponed even in unfavourable economic and political conditions. Consumers are still buying new phones via online channels and in areas unaffected by the political conflict.

In last year's fourth quarter, sales of handsets reached a new record of 6.3 million, up by 4% year-on-year and driven by a 63.6% increase in smartphone sales.

Mr Satianporn said low-end smartphones priced below 3,000 baht would account for 18% of handset sales this year, up from 11% last year and only 1% in 2012.

The average entry smartphone price will fall to 1,500 baht this year, down from 2,500 baht last year.

Mr Satianporn said intense competition from mobile operators encouraging subscribers to migrate to 3G service has prompted handset makers to roll out a greater variety of affordable models.

IDC predicts smartphones will account for 55-60% of the handset market this year, surpassing sales of conventional feature phones for the first time.

Android-based smartphones dominate the market with a 73% share as handset makers increasingly shift to the Android system. Apple's iOS is in second place.

Mr Satianporn said the Thai smartphone market will retain its position as the second-largest smartphone market in Southeast Asia this year, behind Indonesia.

However, the market in Vietnam looks set to grow the fastest in Southeast Asia, as its government is encouraging mobile operators to provide affordable mobile tariff plans.

Vietnam is also an Asian mobile manufacturing hub alongside China and India, said Mr Satianporn.

___ (c)2014 the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) Visit the Bangkok Post (Bangkok, Thailand) at www.bangkokpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]