In an exclusive interview with Samsung Product manager Abu Nasar Siddiq Alvi, we discuss how Samsung has managed to attract a plethora of customers by developing user friendly smart phones. We also discuss the potential of smartphones in the Pakistani market.
Changing the way of communication
“Smartphones, tablets and handheld devices have changed the way of communication. Connectivity and social networking have become the need for everybody, as people want to maintain constant connect on the go. Samsung foresees a leadership role and is preparing itself to meet the growing demand of mobile handheld devices.”
While speaking to Profit in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Samsung Product Manager Abu Nasar Siddiq Alvi underscores that the Pakistani market is growing at a very fast pace. Samsung, like other device manufacturers, is trying to cater to the increasing demands of the indigenous market by introducing a new range of products with more innovative features.
Capitalising potential
He pointed out that new Wi-Fi hotspots are opening up and telecom operators are looking forward for 3G technology; once connectivity is available the demand for such devices, including smartphones and tablets, would multiply.
“Though, right now, operators are not offering high-speed connectivity on mobile devices, even then people are switching to smartphones and tablets. It indicates that people have demand and purchasing power for such products and Samsung is preparing to capitalise this potential,” .
He underlined that these gadgets were not luxury anymore, but had become a necessity. The demand for tablets and smartphones have witnessed a tremendous increase during the recent year.
“Samsung foresees a rapidly growing tablet market. Because people do not want to carry bulky notebooks or small screen mobile phone while enjoying multimedia, social networking and internet browsing. Samsung believes that tablets will now capture the market as it serves the functions of a notebook and a mobile phone,”.
Challenge for growth
Responding to a query, Alvi said that various blogs and tech-gurus were claiming that Samsung has surpassed its rivals in mobile phone sales, however, the official numbers have depicted that Samsung is currently polled at second place all across world. Speaking about mobile applications, he said that awareness among users was a big challenge in the growth of smart devices. But local applications and social networking are helping people understand what they can do with these modern day gadgets.
“People are getting aware about smart phone features and their usability. They are checking weather, updating their social status, reading news and making financial transactions on the go by using tablets and smartphones,”
Galaxy smart-phones
Highlighting the growth of Galaxy series smartphones, Alvi pointed out that Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy SII smartphones had achieved a combined total of 30 million global sales.
“Galaxy SII has set a new record for Samsung, generating more than 10 million sales – quicker than any device in Samsung’s history. The device also recently received five out of the total ten “Mobile Choice Consumer Awards 2011” in the UK as well as “2011 Gadget Award” for being chosen as the “best smartphone of the year” by T3, confirming it as a run-away favorite smartphone with consumers this year. Launched in 2010, Samsung Galaxy S reached almost 20 million sales, making it the highest-selling mobile device in Samsung’s portfolio to date”.