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Report: Smartphone use soars in Southeast Asia

Posted: , by Alan F.

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Report: Smartphone use soars in Southeast Asia
Smartphone use is rising sharply in Southeast Asia

Smartphone use is rising sharply in Southeast Asia

Based on research compiled by GfK Asia, smartphones have taken over the market for mobile handsets in Southeast Asia. The region's use of smartphones has exploded with two out of every three mobile handset users now carrying a smartphone in his back pocket or in her purse. Last year, one in two handset owners in the area was using a smartphone. In areas like Singapore and Malaysia, these devices are employed by 88% of those carrying a mobile phone. Smartphone use continues to grow in the region. In the first quarter of this year, 7.7 million units were purchased at a cost of $2.4 million USD. GfK Asia says that in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, and Cambodia, growth in smartphone use year over year ranged from 40% to as high as 400%.

Touch only models are becoming a favorite of smartphone users in the area. While making up 47% of smartphone models in use last year, that figure is now up to 71%. Of those smartphones sold in the region during Q1, 35% were equipped with an 8MP camera or higher vs. 12% in 2011's first three months. Certain countries like Cambodia (70%), Singapore (67%) and Malaysia (58%) account for much of the demand for units with mid to high-end camera sensors aboard.

Gerard Tan, Account Director for Digital Technology at GfK Asia, predicted that the stable prices for smartphones in the area, currently $309 USD on average, will help continue to drive the momentum in sales belonging to smartphones in Southeast Asia. Tan says that the country is nowhere near the saturation point and that many people in the area still do not own a mobile phone. He says that this makes the region a great place for smartphone manufacturers to concentrate on.
"In developing Southeast Asia where smartphone penetration is still nowhere near saturation levels, we can be sure that the current sales spurt will carry on for at least the next few years. With much of the populace still not owning a mobile phone, there is no better place for global mobile phone brands to focus their sales and marketing efforts."-Gerard Tan, Account Director for Digital Technology GfK Asia.

source: GfK via DailyMobile

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1. tward291 posted on 30 Apr 2012, 16:24 4

this is just more welcomed news for oems now lets get windows in every hand

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2. RobotMan posted on 30 Apr 2012, 19:53

No, still Android and iphone here that people buying.

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3. Archan_Pe posted on 30 Apr 2012, 20:30 4

LO; yah mostly android but I've seen alot of nokia(s) here in the philippines

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6. Tips_y posted on 01 May 2012, 00:23 1

True but mostly Nokia feature phones and some Symbian phones. But recently, Nokia brought into the Philippines their Lumia line in the 800, 710, and 610 Windows Phones. And in late May 2012, they will bring in their flagship Lumia 900. I love Windows Phone so I hope Nokia will be able to sell a lot of their Lumias in the Philippines.

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9. Archan_Pe posted on 01 May 2012, 10:16

I think the 610 and 710 WIll be a hit! since there cheap... so yah im expecting huge sale in philippines... :D.. i was planning to buy a new phone soon... but i think im not getting the lumia 900 but the padfone... cause if i get the 900 my friends wont tell me " hey you have a new phone" but they will just tell me "wait did your phone go bigger and got 3 buttons?" xD

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11. Tips_y posted on 03 May 2012, 04:11

I want to be different so I bought (from out of the country) my 1st Windows Phone less than 5 months ago. When my friends asked what kind of phone it is, I hand it to them so they can play with it and without fail they say "Wow it's smooth and fast! What is it?" I don't answer, I just take a picture and post it to facebook. And they go "Wow, how did you do that so fast?!!" Then I say, of course it's smooth and fast and easy to use with facebook because it's a Windows Phone! LOL!

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4. neutralguy posted on 30 Apr 2012, 21:02 2

That is because windows just started, you can't expect it to boom in only a few months of release with a few handsets compared to much know androids and iphone. But for starter, windows did make a really good job introducing itself. Maybe on 2013 or so, it will be a competitor to androids and iOS.

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5. XiphiasGladius posted on 30 Apr 2012, 22:11 1 2

Simply because the very competent low end LG, Sony (ericsson) & Samsung Android phones are now as cheap as a Nokia Dumb phone that came out in the same year. And Mid range and High end phones are actually not imposible to buy even at an Unlock status. . .

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7. thelegend6657 posted on 01 May 2012, 06:30

In Malaysia either someone is carrying something high end like GS2 or iphone . There are a lot of xperia's here too although HTC is not too far behind

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8. JGuinan007 posted on 01 May 2012, 09:43

Why aren't more asians using the Galaxy Note?

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10. Archan_Pe posted on 01 May 2012, 10:18

Ive seen alot actually but most users are korean xD

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