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SINGAPORE: Smartphones are gaining popularity among mobile users. They have become attractive because of their multi-faceted capabilities. But prices have also dropped sharply, opening up the market to more than just business users.
An increasing number of non-business mobile subscribers are switching over, according to a recent survey by OCBC Research.
The smartphones are highly user-friendly, allowing mobile subscribers to switch easily between functions, allowing them to change the way they work and play.
The recent sharp drop in prices, of as much as 50 per cent over the past year has made the all-in-one device even more appealing.
Lena Goh, marketing director, Mobile Communications, Microsoft, said: "We feel that with the current climate, it is more important to economise and re-evaluate your IT bills.
“So if you look at how you are able to use your Windows and your PC and being able to translate all that media, calendar, task, Outlook, onto your mobile phones, without having to buy a separate PC camera or mp3 - having all these converged devices on one mobile device helps consumers to save more money."
Microsoft said it is looking to increasingly develop all in one PC and mobile models. Meanwhile, Nokia plans to extend its smartphone arm launching the converged N97 at the beginning of 2009.
For businesses, the smartphones may also help their bottom-lines.
Carey Wong, research manager, OCBC Investment Research, said: "We will see probably remote kind of working because with mobile technology and wireless broadband you can do your work at home or anywhere else without having to be stationed to one point.”
And with smartphones gaining popularity, more applications may be in the pipeline.
These include further customisation and social networking functions specially tailored for users on the go. - CNA/vm
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