Acer aims to be in the top five by 2014

[Nick]

Having been launched its first series of smart phones last year, Acer Computers recently announced that it aims to be in the top five worldwide market by 2014.

According to Acer Computers general manager, Alan Chiang, the total smart phone shipments in Thailand last year reached over a million units and Acer believes that the market will grow significantly and the competition will become more intense. This year, Acer aims to achieve a 10 percent market share for Windows-based and Android-based smart phones.

Acer strives to become one of the top five smart phone brands by 2014, he said, adding that in the Thailand market, the company aims to meet 20 percent of the market share of Android's segment.

He noted that the company is confident about its target because of its strength in distribution channels. Four key channels for Acer smart phones are IT channels, distribution channels, telecom operators, and direct activities to university students with Acer's Unwire Campus program.

IT channels is the strength of Acer that the company has built here for a long time including retail shops, superstores, and the modern trade sector and this will become a potentially strong channel for the smart phone product line. Acer has been talking to telecom operators AIS and Dtac, and it expects the products to be launched with the operators' campaign in the third quarter.

Chiang claimed that Acer is the only brand which can play a key role in different mobility products. "For the users who want to access the Internet, Acer has provided them with complete segments, notebooks, netbooks, smart phones, and media tablets which will be marketed in the third quarter," he said.

Though Acer is a latecomer in this market, he pointed out that users are always looking for alternatives. "Acer has tried to offer affordable smart phones as an alternative for consumers," he said, adding that Acer believes that Android is the future mobile platform as it has Internet accessibility and smart phones all rely on the Internet and cloud computing.

Recently, Acer rolled out Acer beTouch E110 and beTouch E400 Android smart phones. The E110 (5,990 baht) comes with a 2.8-inch touchscreen display, incorporates a 3.2MP digital camera and supports 3G, GPS and Bluetooth connections. The E400 (12,900 baht) features a 3.2-inch HVGA display and can download more than 30,000 applications from the Android market. It supports 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth connection.

About the author


Writer: Sasiwimon Boonruang
Position: Database Reporter

ที่มา: bangkokpost.com