Mobile gadget traders expect tougher competition this year

CEBU, Philippines - While the market is expected to be flooded with the fast turnover of modern mobile gadgets in 2014, traders and distributors expect more complementary infrastructure to capitalize on the active mobile internet market in the Philippines.

Jun Yap, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Junrex Cellphones and Accessories Inc., expects a much stronger battle this year for network providers to roll-out faster, reliable, high bandwidth data services connection to both post paid and pre-paid subscribers.

Likewise, gadget makers are expected to introduce exciting features of affordable smartphones this year, such as the entry of quadcore-based gadgets,

This will reinforce the doubling or tripling of mobile devices sales for this year, said Yap.

Already, mobile gadgets such as cellphones, tablets, smartphones had been performing strongly in the last couple of years. But this year, Yap said users will expect cheaper priced smartphones, and tablets, as well as pocket-friendly if not more unlimited mobile internet connection.

According to Yap the competition battle is still on, in fact fiercer this year for both gadget makers and network providers.

A much reliable LTE (Long Term Evolution) infrastructure is expected, with network companies expanding their coverage of this particular mobile enabler.

Ng Khai Development Corporation, one of the largest technology and gadget distributor and retailers in the Visayas, also noted similar observation with Yap saying that demand for tablets and smartphones have since been growing due to affordability of prices.

Ng Khai chief executive officer (CEO) Melanie Ng said that technology items, like phablets, gadget accessories, among others will remain to be the ‘star performer” in the sector this year. Android-based gadgets likewise, will also stay as the “darling” operating system for mainstream mobile technology users.

Last year, smartphone prices hovered from P3,000 to P40,000. This year, more sophisticated models will be introduced, and prices are expected to dive further, Yap said.

Meanwhile, Filipino-owned smartphone and tablet maker capitalizing on Android operating system (OS) Starmobile, estimates that some 5.6 million smartphones with a total value of P57 billion will be sold in by the end of 2013.

In 2012, there were about 4.6 million smartphones sold valued at P41 billion.

According to Starmobile’s official statement, Metro Cebu remains the strongest market in the Visayas, with its consistent high-level performance.

For this reason, Starmobile invested and made its brave entry to the Southern Philippine market with the opening of its dedicated shop in Cebu at the Ayala Center shopping mall.

From five stores and kiosks in Dec. 2012, the firm, expanded to 45 stores and kiosks. It now has a total of six concept stores, of which three outlets are located in Cebu.

A study conducted by Ericsson ConsumerLab for Southeast Asia and Oceana, it indicated that table penetration in the Philippines, increased from six percent in 2012 to 14 in the following year.

“There is a clear change in mobile data usage. Users now prefer instant messaging, social networking and video streaming,” Afrizal Abdul Rahim, regional head for Ericsson ConsumerLab South East Asia & Oceania revealed.

On the other hand, Power Mac Center Inc., the largest Apple devices distributor in the Philippines, also noted fast growth of iOS usage in the Philippines.

Power Mac Center Inc., product manager Gino Villame said that the growth of Apple devices sales in the Philippines is rapidly expanding.

Villame said Apple is set to introduce more sophisticated devices such as newer model of iPads, higher version of iPhones , laptops in the next couple of years.

This year, the newly opened Mac Center outlet in Cebu will offer crash courses for Apple Certified Engineers, as well as iOs Development training for children. —/JOB (FREEMAN)