VietNamNet Bridge – Market surveyors believe that in hi-tech products, manufacturers only focus on technologies, while they do not care much other features to target clients in different genders. Meanwhile, manufacturers always offer difference choices for men and women when selling lower cost products.

Several years ago, mobile phone manufacturers launched different models that were designed specifically for women and men. The products targeting women were always more colorful, small and womanly, while the products for men were luxurious and manly. However, it seems that manufacturers nowadays do not pay attention to the gender of users any more. Instead, they now pay attention to other information, such as the age of users, income and the demand.

Experts believe that as for hi-tech products, the characteristics designed specifically for men or women are not really important. The users of hi-tech products only want the products with high technologies which can help them a lot in their works.

Thuy Minh, an officer of a foreign freight forwarding company, now has two mobile phones, an iPhone 3Gs and a Black Berry Bold 9000. The two big mobile phones seem to be “oversized” in comparison with the small hands of Minh. However, Minh still likes to use them.

“At first, I felt a little uncomfortable because the phones were too big. However, later, the appearance of the phones is not too important to me, while I have been convinced by their features,” she said.

Le Thi, a businesswoman in district 8 in HCM City, has bought a white iPhone 3Gs instead of a small mobile phone as advised by the friends. “As for me, mobile phone is not a decorative thing. I need a mobile phone which helps me check mails and surf on Internet anytime and anywhere,” she said.

The owner of a shop which specializes in retailing Apple’s products in district 1 of HCM City, said that more women have chosen to buy iPhone 3G and iPhone 3Gs than men.

“The customers, who decide to buy iPhones, are all the ones who love high technologies. Therefore, they don’t care much about the characteristics designed for men or women. The gender of the users just can be reflected in the color of the mobile phones,” he noted.

Four or five years ago, men always tried to choose “manly products” which can be seen in the size, color, the steel cover. Meanwhile, the characteristics have become no more important. The features and the technologies of the products are more important.

However, mobile phone manufacturers nowadays still have clear plans to target clients in different gender when making lower grade products.

Hoang Ngoc Vy, Director of the Vien Thong A retail hi-tech product chain, also said that she still can see the different designs for men and women only in the lower grade products. Two years ago, ABTel once succeeded with Q-Mobile She for women which has white color, and the products with pink color for students and office workers.

MobiStar mobile phones now have @ series products with very bright colors, targeting the students and women who have affected manners.

Ngo Nguyen Kha, Deputy Director of MobiStar, though admitting that in high-technology products, high technologies are the most important factor, still said if lower grade products have impressive designs, it would be easier to boost sale.

Therefore, small manufacturers, who cannot compete in technologies with the bigger ones, have been trying to take full advantage of the factor to boost sale. Meanwhile, some big manufacturers such as Samsung, Nokia, LG and HTC tend to harmonize the features in technologies and the designs suitable to different genders.

Black Berry also has some products designed for women such as Style 9670 with violet cover. Vi Quoc Hoan, a senior executive of HTC Vietnam, whose clients are mostly men, said that HTC would also launch the products targeting women clients.

Source: SGTT