Asia’s mobile market looks upbeat

Asia’s mobile market is poised for growth. As competition intensifies, brands are increasingly customizing their approaches to the unique needs of the Asian mobile customer. Spire Research and Consulting shared insights on key trends in Asia’s vast mobile market, published on the US Consumer Electronics Association’s blog.

Global mobile technology brands are excited about the 85% mobile phone penetration in vast countries like India, China and Indonesia. At the same time, there are still over 400 million people in Asia who do not have a mobile phone, which suggests plenty of room to grow. What will set top brands apart? Three brands are taking the competition to a whole new level in the region and here is how:

Xiaomi is a popular Chinese brand which has made headway into the Indian market with its recent fourth flash sale – marking a record 11,500 mobile phone units sold per second! Xiaomi’s popularity stems from its low price points ranging between USD200 and USD300, combined with high power specifications. The trick Xiaomi uses is the “wave strategy” – selling out a limited supply over multiple waves.

Obi is the brainchild of former PepsiCo/Apple CEO John Sculley. It aims to capture the Indian market with specific focus on those aged 16 to 35. It practices aggressive price competition, evident from the launch of its flagship 8-core handset, Octopus S520 for just under USD200 in India. Moreover, not ones to neglect local partnerships, Obi’s recent deal with Jumbo Electronics – a leading IT distributor – will further expand Obi products into Africa and the Middle East.

Blackberry is still a force to be reckoned with in Indonesia, though more in the app space than the hardware space these days. The BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) maintains the top spot for iPhone apps in all of Indonesia and, interestingly enough, Nigeria. Blackberry is seeking more opportunities to expand into the software side of the business with enhancements that include BBM Money for making day-to-day payments, as it faces stiff competition from hardware vendors like Samsung.

These stand-out players have reminded us of the value of competitive differentiators like investing early and heavily in the market, low price points and creative apps to lure customers.

https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/media/asias-mobile-market-looks-upbeat/

Comments

Egyptian-Israeli gas deal to boost bilateral trade

A USD15 billion deal has been announced between Israel and Egypt to export natural gas. Israel’s Delek Group has signed an agreement to supply 64 billion cubic meters of gas in a span of ten years to Egypt’s Dolphinus Holdings. The deal is considered a milestone ever since the 1979 peace accord, bringing Egypt a step closer to becoming a regional energy hub. However, the transportation of natural gas from Israel to Egypt is a challenge given the security risks. Will the Egypt-Israel gas export deal usher in a relationship of bonhomie and economic co-operation? Read more here: https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/egyptian-israeli-gas-deal-to-boost-bilateral-trade/

Spire speaks on Omni-channel strategies for Indonesian retailers

Spire was honored to participate in the Samsung Top Achiever Retailer (STAR) event held on 22 August, in Jakarta. Albertus Edy Rianto, Senior Manager, Spire Indonesia, shared his insights on the significance of Omni – channel strategies for mobile phone retailers. Albertus discussed offline-to-online strategy, where multiple channels merge to help target customers across various channel platforms. He elaborated that more than 80% of Indonesian mobile phone retail sales in 2020 will still occur at physical outlets. However, 71% of Indonesians browse online for a while prior to shopping at a physical store. Factors that influence customers include better delivery conditions, storefront apps for better sales and even packaging. As customers become more tech-savvy and demanding, more consideration will be given to innovative payment processes and browsing more than one channel to make a purchase. As far as online purchases are concerned, 25% of customers still feel ...

Asia-Pacific nations poised to sign the world’s largest multi-lateral trade agreement, RCEP, in 2020

After six years of negotiations, more than a dozen countries in the Asia-Pacific are poised to sign the world’s largest trade agreement, known as the Regional Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP), in 2020. This agreement would boost commerce among participating countries by lowering tariffs as well as standardizing customs rules and procedures. The RCEP will widen market access, especially for those countries that do not have existing many bilateral trade agreements in place. Will India pay a price for its decision to stay out of the RCEP? Read more: https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/asia-pacific-nations-poised-to-sign-the-worlds-largest-multi-lateral-trade-agreement-rcep-in-2020/

Prison ankle bracelets are all the rage in Brazil

With about 622,000 inmates, Brazil is home to Latin America’s largest and the world’s fourth largest prison population. Around 32,000 criminals sport one of the many types of ankle bracelets being used. Many others are on a waiting list. The authorities estimate that they can save anywhere from USD12,000 to USD 72,000 a year for every tagged inmate removed from prison. Will ankle bracelets allow more prison inmates to serve their sentences from home? https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/prison-ankle-bracelets-are-all-the-rage-in-brazil/

Germany: The Eurozone’s economic powerhouse

Germany is the fourth largest global economy today. Its exports amounted to EUR107 billion in March 2015 – an all-time high since the 1950’s. Despite being the only European nation with a strong manufacturing base and rising employment rate, will Germany succeed to drive Eurozone’s stagnant economy? And what lessons does Germany’s economic success hold for the rest of the world? Germany’s resurgence With the second lowest unemployment rate in the European Union (EU) at 5.3 per cent, Germany’s economy has survived many setbacks. The economic success dates back to the Industrial Revolution due to the early adoption of coal production and rail transportation. Moreover, the fall of the Berlin Wall – the reunification of West and East Germany – and the expansion of the EU created huge market opportunities for Germany. Often regarded as the ‘Sick man of Europe’, Germany had almost lost hope of returning to rapid economic growth, undergoing recessions in 2003 and a dismal 1.2 p...

The Knowledge to Decide

Search This Blog