iPhone and Blackberry affect Nokia sales in the Philippines

CEBU, Philippines - The growing popularity of high-end mobile phone units such as iPhone and Blackberry has resulted to a slight decline in Nokia’s sales of similar sophisticated mobile phone units, thus the company is determined to fight back.

Nikka Abes, corporate communications manager for Nokia Philippines, admitted that the Nokia brand has been affected by the entry of high-end phone units. Although, she said the company is moving strongly to regain what is rightfully theirs.

With the introduction of Qwerty and touch-screen phones that will be made affordably in the market in the next few months, Nokia hopes to regain its market share soon, Abes said.

Already, Nokia has introduced the N8, C7, E7, among others to level off in the strong competition among high-end phones in the market today. She said more are coming and the Qwerty-phone category that will be made affordable to the market, she said.

Based on the first quarter 2011 report from IDC, Nokia’s share in the Philippine mobile phone market stood at 24 percent, she said Nokia is confident that it can raise its share in the coming quarters, as the brand has prepared series of surprises for the Filipino mobile phone users.

Although globally, the Nokia brand still holds the majority share in the market, Abes said. In the Philippines however, the brand’s qwerty-phone segment has been shaken by the entry of other phone brands.

Meanwhile, Nokia is likewise expanding its popularity in the huge mainstream market segment, with specifically with the introduction of wide array of affordable, yet quality mobile phones.

Recently, Nokia launched its dual-SIM technology, through the introduction of Nokia X1-01 and Nokia C2-00. The Finland-based cellular maker, promised that both models offer the most convenient and intuitive experience available for switching between SIM cards—without compromising on features and fun.

“The Nokia X1-01 and Nokia C2-00 pack more memory better battery life and far richer SIM change and entertainment features than other Dual SIM products currently in the market,” said Benoit Nalin, general manager of Nokia Philippines.

“In addition to their various unique features, both of these phones remember the settings for up to five separate SIM cards, each of which can be personalized with dedicated names as well as preferred call, SMS or data settings,” Nalin added.

According to Abes, Nokia has designed the dual-SIM units because of the strong trend of the strong demand from the Southeast Asian market, specifically in the Philippines, Vietnam and India.

This early, she said Filipinos are already waiting for the availability of these dual phones in the market. In Cebu, these units which SRP (suggested retail price) pegged at P1,900 (Nokia X1-10), and P2,990 (Nokia C-2-00).

In the Philippines alone, study showed that in there are huge number of household that are using more than one SIM for one cell-phone. Because of this, Nokia is trying to address this condition, by providing the good quality Dual-Sim units.

Although, DUAL-SIM technology has been in the market for quite a while, introduced by other cellphone manufacturers, especially those made in China, Abes is confident that the entry of Nokia to DUAL-SIM bracket, could recover help its market share and “bring them back to the Nokia family once again.”

Abes described this year as “tough year” for Nokia in the Philippines, apart from its bid to regain market share in the high-end phone category, she said customers are also in the “wait and see” attitude for the upcoming deployment of Windows Phone in 2012.— (FREEMAN)