While Taiwanese Apple fans are anxiously hoping to acquire iPhone 4S by mid-December, rivals HTC and Samsung are preparing to launch their respective flagship products to counter iPhone’s dominance in the local market.
Some industry analysts said the late Steve Jobs’ strong appeal among consumers may vanish sooner than expected, which would allow other smartphone providers to grab a bigger slice of the market.
Following are excerpts of the local China daily Times’ reports on the issue:
Most smartphones cost NT$15,000 (US$493) or more in Taiwan, with Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4 at the high end of the market, carrying a price tag of NT$25,000.
But business people said Apple’s iPhone just like the other Apple products or accessories such as Apple Laptop Battery is facing keen competition from other smartphones, such as HTC’s Sensation series, with the XL multi-media model selling for just NT$20,900.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note, with a screen of 5.3 inches, was priced at NT$23,900. It’s handwriting feature allows users to take notes wherever they go.
Market observers said Apple had surprised consumers with its recent series of new devices such as iPhone and iPad, but if it cannot keep coming up with innovative new products, consumers will think of switching to other brands since Apple products with upgraded features can only lead for a while.
Another reason that iPhone may face tough competition is that telecom carriers are offering higher incentives to consumers who sign a term contract to get a new device at a lower cash cost, observers said.
If the incentives are lowered in the future, said the analysts, a new “era of warring states” will arise and “multi-polar” chaos will erupt in the smartphone market in the post-Jobs’ era.
But no one can say when that time will come, particularly as most observers expect to see a boom in iPhone 4S sales beginning Dec. 16 or 17 in Taiwan.
Three major carriers — Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and Farestone — are all ready to launch a wave of iPhone 4S promotion for the year-end high season.
Market watchers estimate the carriers will be able to sell as many as 200,000 iPhone 4S, triggering a new wave of changes to the new model.
When the three carriers launched iPhone 4 in September last year, long lines of enthusiastic consumers formed in front of their shops at midnight. Over half a million iPhone 4 have been sold in Taiwan to date.
Since the 4S model was launched in the United States in October, smuggled models have been brought into Taiwan, with the 16-G model fetching over NT$30,000 before falling to NT$25,000 later. The 32-G model now sells for around NT$28,000.
Carriers are expected to offer a package of a free iPhone 4S with a monthly rental of NT$1,700 — a package that is likely to lure current iPhone users to the newest model.
Why does iPhone keep attracting Taiwanese consumers? Some fans said they do not want to leave Apple’s arms while others simply want to get one “in memory of Jobs,” who passed away last month.
An office worker with the pseudonym Chia Chia said he was currently using iPhone 3GS because other models of smartphones “are not easy to use.”
Apple smartphones are easy to use and have many apps to choose from, so “I want to sign a contract to own an iPhone 4S,” he said. Chia Chia said he would also love to try iPhone 4S Siri voice assistant feature.
Hsiao Chi, another iPhone 3GS user who said the device’s battery is problematic, said she still wants to change to iPhone 4S because she has purchased a lot of apps from the Apple Store, which she does not want to lose.
“I’m going to stay with iPhone, no matter what,” she said.
Hsiao Yi, who currently uses another phone brand, said she wants to try falling in love with Apple phones after being constantly pushed by friends who offered their own testimony about the advantages of iPhone.
She said she also wants to switch to iPhone as a way of remembering Steve Jobs, as the S in 4S seems to stands for Steve. “After all, he’s a hero worthy of commemoration,” she said. (Nov. 27, 2011) (By S.C. Chang) Enditem /pc
