The number of smartphones in Vietnam had reached its highest level in the third quarter of 2012, rising 83% year-over-year. Local companies were gaining considerable market share. Research firm IDC Vietnam reported that Android dominated the local smartphone market due to robust app storage and local app developer growth. IDC forecast that new product launches from Apple and Microsoft in the fourth quarter would keep the market busy and competitive.

1. Smartphones Overwhelm Local Market
23/12/2012
The number of smartphones in Vietnam had reached the highest level so far in the third quarter
of this year, with considerable market shares belonging to local companies, market research
company IDC Vietnam reports.
The number of smartphones available in the local market had risen 83% year-on-year in this
year’s January-September. The high growth has an important meaning in the context that the
total number of mobile phones consumed recorded a fall of 9% compared to the same period last
year.
Daniel Pang, research director in charge of ASEAN region of IDC Asia & Pacific, noticed the
number of low-cost smartphones with many applications customized by big makers like
Samsung and LG has been rising at home.
“The market is expected to continue growing and it is noted that the number of smartphones in
Vietnam has been doubling that of computers,” he said.
According to Pang, local enterprises such as MobiiStar, Q-Mobile and Gionee over the past time
have made strong investment in the segment of smartphone products with affordable prices to
meet the surging local demand.

2. IDC’s research indicates Android has continued dominating the local smartphone market with
robust growth based on the hefty mobile application storage and the vigorous development of
local application developers.
The firm forecasts the launch of new mobile product iOS and Windows Phone 8 in the fourth
quarter to keep making the market bustling and competitive.
Vo Le Tam Thanh, market analyst at IDC Vietnam, said Microsoft had poured a large capital
volume into marketing activities to attract local developers to boost demand for Windows Phone
8.
Samsung now is the top maker in the smartphone segment, followed by HTC, LG, Nokia and Q-
Smart, the last-named being a brand of the Vietnamese firm Q-Mobile, IDC reports.
(Source: SGT)