Android phones at affordable prices

In Nigeria, the demand for smart devices such as android, windows phone, blackberry, iPhones has been growing from strength to strength, with many consumers finding them to be simple and elegant in meeting up with business transactions, personal transactions, among other purposes. It becomes popular every now and then as they have been embraced by upwardly-mobile experts as well as tech savvy individuals.

Many Nigerian consumers have gone the extra mile just to own an android phone; due to the exorbitant prices in Nigeria as well, many have accessed intentionally based online shops to get an android phones. While some have ended up in buying a lot of fake China android phones that do not support applications, which seem to be the thrust for getting android phones either from phone dealers or phone hawkers on the streets of Lagos.

Globally, android’s dominance in the smartphone market relate to several factors, such as competitive licensing costs, hardware partners, and large app stores; and android devices are making inroads in all price tiers, not only in developed markets but in developing markets as well. Android is now powering eight out of 10 smartphones in the entire world, Neil Mawtson, strategy analytics executive director said, in Android community reports.

Android in the Q2 of 2012 recorded 69.50 percent market share, 79.50 percent in the Q2 of 2013; Apple I- phone maker recorded 16.60 percent in the Q2 of 2012, 13.60 percent in the Q2 of 2013; Windows phone, which is solely dominated by Nokia recorded 3.60 percent in the Q2 of 2012; 3.90 percent in the Q2 of 2013, while other brands recorded 10.40 percent market share in the Q2 of 2012, 3.00 percent in the Q2 of 2013.

Furthermore, by implication, numbers show that android comprised 70 percent of global smartphone shipment for Q4 2012, with a total of 68 percent for the whole year, while android-powered smartphones comprised 80 percent of global smartphone shipment of 229.6 million units in the Q2 2013.

The high demand could be as a result of many advantages which it has over other smartphones operating in a different platform. The android device operates on the android operating system powers hundreds of millions of mobile devices in more than 190 countries around the world. It’s the largest installed base of any mobile platform and growing fast – every day another million users’ power up their Android devices for the first time and start looking for apps, games, and other digital content.

Android gives you a world-class platform for creating apps and games for users everywhere, as well as an open marketplace for distributing to them instantly.

In Nigeria, it is a different ball game, a greater percentage of smartphone users who accessed the internet on daily basis are blackberry users. The success of the blackberry, according to analyst, is due to the prestige it bestows and one distinctive feature which it offers to Nigerian users known as pinging, which is quite synonymous with Whatsapp.

This particular feature has endeared the brand to Nigerian consumers since they allow communication at a minimal rate.

Interestingly, some android phones have also incorporated some of these services and on the back of this, have gained significant market share, and could possibly have the greatest share in the Nigerian smartphone market.

In more than one way, the quest by Nigerian consumers, especially the low income earners and teenagers could be met, with Tecno many consumers will use android phones, going by the affordable android phones it has launched in recent times.

Tecno is now ranking number two in terms of mobile market share in Nigeria and number one in Dual SIM category in entire Africa. The Chinese phone maker is thriving hard to get its market share in the smartphone market, provide sound quality hardwares and user-oriented software with beneficial packages like mobile internet bundle, app pre-load and download from the biggest operator.

The Chinese phone maker has unveiled series of android phones QI, D5, N3, N7, Tecno Phantom A; these android phones have authentic and triggering distinctive features that could attract android loving users.

“Nigerian consumers could enjoy using android phones which has been the dreams of most consumers. Compared to other smartphones in terms of price and its operating system, it is economically wise,” according to consumers response to BusinessDay’s questions.

By: JUSTICE GODFREY OKAMGBA