Smart-phones business
in INDIA: Getting bigger, brighter, and even smarter!
One out of every 7 persons in the world will have a smart
phone this year. According to a new
forecast from market research
firm IDC, more than 1 billion new ‘smart phones’ will make their way into
consumers' hands in 2013, the first time it will reach that mark in a single
year! India’s total
population 1.27 billion. Population between 15 and 50 years: 640 millions
(approx.) Number of smart phone users in India: 67 Millions. This proves that
the penetration of the smart-phones will be much higher in the upcoming days. When
we talk about the smart-phones, we must talk about the types of smart-phones
those are popular in India. Low price, high memory, bigger displays, better music
system, better camera. “Indian market is too much price sensitive and
competitive.” says Alcatel Lucent CEO Michel Combes. Major smart-phone providers
in India: Samsung, Micromax, Apple, Blackberry, NOKIA, htc etc…
Samsung: According to the report, Samsung had 43.1 percent
smartphone market share at the end of 2012, which does not include the Galaxy
Note and the Galaxy Note II, which the market research outfit classifies as
phablets and does not include in its smartphone shipment numbers. The actual reason for the success is they
targeted customers very well. However, they did not innovate but they have
launched their products at proper time and with proper price. The most
noticeable thing about Samsung is they have targeted all the segments whether it
is high-end customer segment or low-end customer segment. When in 2007 Apple
comes with its first iPhones suddenly in 2007 end Samsung adapted Android
operating system and launched many smart phones that helps them really well in
grabbing the market. Recent news is that Samsung is going to release 2
new smart phones ranging around 15000Rs in 2014 targeting the youth.
NOKIA: Microsoft and Nokia have been more aggressive
about pushing new phones running the platform onto the market, particularly by
showing off camera-focused models such as the Nokia Lumia 925 and 1020. Nokia,
in fact, recently pushed out an ad directly challenging the iPhone by
lampooning Apple’s “Photos Every Day” ad that touted the fact that the iPhone is the
most-used camera on the market. Once NOKIA
was the market leader in India. Then, what went wrong with NOKIA? When apple came with its innovative iPhones
for the first time in 2007, companies like Samsung realizes that it is a market
transition point and to sustain in this market they need to give better
products with competitive features. However, at that time rather than adapting
a new operating system NOKIA stuck to his old symbian OS. Then as we all
know the market of NOKIA started falling. Then back in 2011 NOKIA adapted
windows OS and tried to catch the market that it has lost earlier. But it will
take time to compete with widely acceptable android OS. Analysts are
expecting that Windows Phone to eclipse iPhone's market share by the year 2016
due to the recent release of the Nokia Lumia 925 to emerging markets.
Micro-Max: In 2008, it entered mobile handset business and
by 2010 it became one of the largest Indian domestic mobile handsets company by
offering unique affordable innovations. The company has a 22% market share in the smartphone segment in India As per IDC
Asia/ Pacific Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker 2013 Q2. The reason for
micro-max’s success is it has adapted new technologies at the right moment.
It’s main target is youth and lower-end segment. It has also introduced segment
specific phones like for young girls BLING 2.This strategy has helped it in growing rapidly.
Apple: Apple is known for its
innovations. Apple was the one who changed the definition of a smart phone.
Earlier smart phones were for business people but apple changed the whole
conception in 2007 by launching iPhones with innovative apps. Apple’s concept
is to provide best and most innovative phones to its customers. Apple recently
launched iPhone 5S and 5C. 5C is the cheaper version and made to target
especially Asian market. It is seen that iphone 5C has copied the style of
LUMIA’s covers; it may be a point that can tamper its innovative image.
Htc: HTC is aiming to capture 25 percent smartphone
market share in India in 2013, Faisal Siddiqui, country head, HTC India told at
the sidelines of the HTC Butterfly launch. What went wrong with htc is they did not target the market properly in
the earlier stage of the smartphone era. What Samsung did is they targeted every
segment by launching different phones but htc stuck with the high-end customers
only. That went wrong but letter it realizes and launches low-end phones like
htc explorer, desire etc. But the question rises here is it sufficient to grab
the market back?
Blackberry: Once upon a time, they
were so-called one and only business phones. But Samsung and Android OS
together broke it. The problem that has happened with blackberry is they
responded late while Apple and Samsung are competing in to the markets. Their
main flagship feature BBM is expensive while whatsapp OTT player has provided
the same on iOS, android and windows phones for free. This has smacked
blackberry very badly. Now blackberry has responded and launched 3 back to back
smart-phones in 2013.
Now, we will have to
wait and watch to see who wins the race.
MONIL THAKER
Class of 2013-15
Malav good job
ReplyDeleteDetailed research and analysis of the market and the players
Keep the good work going
ReplyDeleteGood job Malav
ReplyDeleteMonil Good Research and Analysis
ReplyDelete