3G service boosts Smartphone sales

The demand for Smartphone in Bangladesh is rising fast, thanks to the introduction of the 3G (third generation) mobile phone service.
Faster internet access through mobile device has made people enthusiastic over Smartphone. Besides, mobile phone operators and handset vendors are also contributing through promotional activities to creation of huge demand for such devices, industry sources said.
Four telecom operators Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel are giving 3G service after getting licence in September last.
Both local and global mobile device vendors are marketing their products in the country. However, local brands, instead of global ones, have secured a good position in the country due to low cost of their products with high configuration.
Local brands Symphony, Walton, Maximus and global brands Samsung, Nokia as well as Indian brand Micromax are leading in the Smartphone market. Symphony alone has more than 40 per cent market share in Smartphone.
However, world renowned brands Apple, LG, Sony and HTC have smallest stake in the Smartphone device market due mainly to its high price.
The vendors said facilities of Smartphone like easy nature of surfing internet, diversified communication system, entertainment and different necessary apps have lured the buyers.
They also said price factor too has helped the local brands to flourish in the market as people can buy a highly-configured Smartphone at a cost of only Tk 20,000. This is three times lower than what the global brands cost.
Last year, sales of Smartphone of Symphony, Samsung and Walton were at the highest, according to import data.   
Symphony Senior Director Rezwanul Haque informed the FE that some of its products got huge response last year. These are W15, W68 and W125.
About 96,816 units of Model W15, which costs Tk3,990, were sold in last 8 months while 95,478 units of another model W68 were sold in last four months. The handset price is Tk6,490. Besides, 37,815 units of the Model W125, costing Tk12,190 each, were sold in last 8 months, he mentioned.
Walton Mobile Division Head and Deputy Director S.M. Rejoan Alam Shiplu said among the Walton products, Primo X2, F2 and Walpad- 8 were in the highest sales list. Primo X2 was released in September last. The price of this phone is Tk 23,990. Primo F2 is priced at about Tk 6,990 and Walpad-8 at Tk 15,990.
Samsung sources said top selling Smartphones of 2013 are G-Star in entry-end Smartphone, G-Core in mid-end Smartphone and G-S4 in high-end Smartphone.