VietNamNet Bridge – The number of smartphones in Vietnam had reached the highest level so far in the third quarter of this year, with considerable market shares belonging to local companies, market research company IDC Vietnam reports.

The number of smartphones available in the local market had risen 83% year-on-year in this year’s January-September. The high growth has an important meaning in the context that the total number of mobile phones consumed recorded a fall of 9% compared to the same period last year.

Daniel Pang, research director in charge of ASEAN region of IDC Asia & Pacific, noticed the number of low-cost smartphones with many applications customized by big makers like Samsung and LG has been rising at home.

“The market is expected to continue growing and it is noted that the number of smartphones in Vietnam has been doubling that of computers,” he said.

According to Pang, local enterprises such as MobiiStar, Q-Mobile and Gionee over the past time have made strong investment in the segment of smartphone products with affordable prices to meet the surging local demand.

IDC’s research indicates Android has continued dominating the local smartphone market with robust growth based on the hefty mobile application storage and the vigorous development of local application developers.

The firm forecasts the launch of new mobile product iOS and Windows Phone 8 in the fourth quarter to keep making the market bustling and competitive.

Vo Le Tam Thanh, market analyst at IDC Vietnam, said Microsoft had poured a large capital volume into marketing activities to attract local developers to boost demand for Windows Phone 8.

Samsung now is the top maker in the smartphone segment, followed by HTC, LG, Nokia and Q-Smart, the last-named being a brand of the Vietnamese firm Q-Mobile, IDC reports.

Source: SGT