Siemens to boost cell phone sales by 40% next year
Siemens to boost cell phone sales by 40% next year
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The distributor of Siemens cellular phones plans to intensify
its marketing efforts in order to jack up sales by 40 percent
next year.
It said the target was realistic as demand for cellular phones
in Indonesia remained robust.
"With good marketing, wide promotion and after-sales service
we are optimistic of selling more phones next year. We want to
push our market position from fourth at the moment to the third
largest in Indonesia in 2004," PT Dian Graha Elektrika general
manager Robby Darmasetiawan said during the launch of new Siemens
mobile phone models on Thursday.
PT Dian Graha Elektrika is the sole distributor of Siemens
mobile phones in Indonesia.
According to a survey conducted by the Worldwide Mobile Phone
QView earlier this month, Siemens is now the world's fourth
largest cellular phone producer in terms of market share.
"This year, the cellular phone market here has grown by about
50 percent, while the number of cellular phone subscribers
reached about 16.7 million as of the end of last October," Robby
said.
About 75 percent of new subscribers are first-time users who
will buy new handsets.
According to Robby, the number of cellular phone subscribers
in the country is expected to grow by about 11 percent next year.
Dian Graha launched three new Siemens cell phone models on
Thursday: the MC60, C60 and C62. The MC60 is the company's first
cell phone with built-in camera.
The C series will retail for Rp 1.375 million (about US$165),
while the MC will sell for Rp 2.2 million, said Dian Graha deputy
general manager Farid Manan.
While other producers are beginning to offer clamshell-shaped
cell phones in Indonesia, Siemens will stick to the conventional
"candy bar"-shaped phones.
"Clamshell types are becoming the new trend in China and
Taiwan, but Indonesians still prefer the candy bar shapes," said
Robby.
He said that from October 2002 to September 2003, Dian Graha
launched eight Siemens cell phones. Over the next year, the
company plans to introduce another 12 models, including the
premium SX1. This cell phone, which is equipped with video
streaming facilities, will hit the local market in December.