INDUSTRY STRUCTURE, ECONOMICS AND TRENDS
Below mentioned industry structure and trends can be observed in developing and
developed markets:
Commonality between Both the Markets
A number of computer manufacturer such as Dell, Acer, Apple and Google have
entered the market, thereby, threatening mainstream handset manufacturers dominance.
In the software for handsets, ecosystems developed by specialist firms (and not
handset manufacturer), such as Google, with support for third partly application is
increasingly becoming more popular. Smartphones and third party applications are
becoming more popular as consumers are spending more on smartphones and third
party applications.
Developed Markets:
The trend in the developed market is changing from basic phones & enhanced
phones to smartphones. Projections for 2010 *€“ 13 (case exhibit 11) assert this fact.
Based on projections 2010 *€“ 13, Smartphones will be the key revenue driver in
the developed markets (See appendix 4). Basic and enhanced phones will contribute
very little to the growth.
Cell phone carriers are responsible for marketing, sales and distribution of
handsets. So, strong relationships with cell phone carrier are vital for success of the
product.
Developing Markets:
Marketing, sales and distribution of the handsets is handled by the manufacturer.
Vast distribution network and penetration in the market is vital for success.
Handset market in developing countries is volume driven market (low end
handsets; low ASP) as well as price driven (high end handsets; high ASP) market. So,
the revenue will be driven by both low end and high end handsets (see appendix 4).
Products that are launched first in the developed markets are adopted in the
developing markets in future. A lot of new products are manufactured and launched
only in the developing markets to tap low end phones market. Penetration in the
developing market is through first time sale.
The crux of the situation is that industry in developed and developing markets is changing
in different
way.