Siemens shows 65% rise in mobile sales

Siemens shows 65% rise in mobile sales

JAKARTA (JP): PT Dian Graha Elektrika, sole distributor of
Siemens mobile phones, booked a 65 percent increase in sales in
the first quarter of this year, thanks to the launching of its
new model handset late last year.

The company's general manager Robby Darmasetiawan said
Siemens' mobile phone sales reached 75,000 units during the
January to March period compared with 45,000 units in the same
period last year.

"With such a brisk market indication, we are optimistic of
reaching a target of 200,000 units in sales this year," Robby
told reporters during a media briefing on Siemens' business
strategy in the Asia Pacific region.

Last year, the company sold a total of about 93,000 handsets.

According to Robby, the country's cellular phone sales are
estimated to grow by 60 percent this year to 1.3 million units,
from around 900,000 last year.

"We are hoping to increase our market share to 26 percent this
year," Robby said.

In the media gathering, also present as keynote speaker was
Siemens Mobile Phones Asia-Pacific vice president, Martin Kinne.

In his presentation, Kinne said that German-based Siemens AG
had been turning its focus to sell its products in the Asia
Pacific region due to the sluggish cellular phone market in
Western Europe and the United States.

He said that the switch was made to anticipate a continued
brisk growth in the company's mobile phone sales in the region in
the past few years.

"Last year we grew three times faster than the cellular phone
market," he said. Kinne said the company aimed to boost its sales
growth to four times that of the market.

According to Kinne, the group has conducted extensive research
into various consumer lifestyles in Asian countries, as different
parts of it cater for different segments in the market.

Siemens manufactures many mobile phone models, including the
M35, S35 and C35, which target different market segments. Last
year, it launched its new SL 45 handset which incorporates a
cellular phone and a built-in MP3 player in a sleek and compact
design.

"We plan to launch a new product sometime in August," Robby
said, declining to provide further details about it.(03)