The growing demand for gadgets with latest technology, which until a few years ago were considered luxury items, has prompted international companies to introduce new products with sophisticated technology in the Nepali market. [break]
With leading mobile manufacturers competing against each other to launch their latest products in the market, Nepalis now have wide array of products to choose from.
According to the statistics of Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), the number of mobile subscribers in the country has increased by 48 percent between Oct, 2010 and Oct, 2011. This means mobile subscribers in Nepal is growing at a healthy rate of more than 40 percent.
The demand for mobile phones with sophisticated technology is increasing by 70 percent each year, according to industry people. They say the demand for smartphones with touchscreen is increasing in the market not only due to their advanced features but also their sleek and stylish design.
“Once people get used to touchscreen phones with advanced applications, it is difficult for them to return to normal handsets. It explains the growing demand for smartphones,” Anup Karki, who looks after marketing at New Road-based Virgin Mobile - a multi-brand gadget store.
Deepak Malhotra executive director of International Marketing Services (IMS) - the sole authorized distributor for Samsung phones in Nepal -- said that the demand for smartphones is increasing by more than 50 percent every year. He sees smartphones ruling Nepal´s phone market within a few years.
“Increasing competition is forcing handset manufactures to come up with new phones with sophisticated technology every now and then. We´ve been bringing these phones in the Nepali market to make sure that our consumers also get to enjoy the latest in mobile telephony,” added Malhotra.
Smartphones runs on PC like operating system and they have advanced features like combining voice services with e-mail, Internet access, social networking applications like Facebook and Twitter among others that are not available on normal handsets, said Amit Raj Daibagya of New Mobile Enterprises at Bhaktapur.
The growing demand for smartphones has encouraged IMS to open dedicated stores for smartphones. “Customers can touch and feel smartphones and know about their functions with the help of trained enginners at our ´Smartphone Café in Durbar Marg and New Road very soon,” added Malhotra.
Price of touchscreen phones start from Rs 7,000 in the Nepali market, while smartphones start from Rs 13,190.
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