iOS device penetration rate in Singapore is the highest in the world at 9.64 per cent, according to Nelso, which took data from AdMob. In other words, 1 out of 10 Singaporeans own either an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.
In the United States, the penetration rate is slightly more than half at 5.91 per cent. Meanwhile, our technologically-savvy Asian counterparts Japan and South Korea have penetration rates of only 1.30 per cent and 1.43 per cent respectively. Even Hong Kong is nowhere near us at 5.26 per cent.
The report also noted that Singaporeans had 402,000 iPhones in April 2010 but the number is now estimated to be over 600,000 after the launch of the iPhone 4 in July, which took the local smartphone market here by storm.
And with the highly-anticipated white iPhone 4 and iPad 2 set to launch in March and April this year respectively, the number of iOS devices owned by Singaporeans is set to grow even higher.
You will most probably find at least one train commuter using the iPhone in each crowded MRT carriage. However, this is not the case in South Korea.
I was in Seoul a couple of weeks ago and took the subway to get my way around the city. Commuters using mobile phones to play games, send text messages or even watch videos are a common sight in Seoul. Nothing unusual about that. But unlike Singapore, I saw only three passengers using the iPhone on the train during my nine days there.
I passed by one Apple premium reseller at an iconic shopping mall in Seoul. It was deserted, and I could only see employees inside. On the hand, I was at Nex and 313@Somerset recently and the Apple stores there always seem packed with people.
I understand that it is not very accurate to compare Singapore with South Korea as well as Japan because South Koreans tend to favour homegrown mobile phone companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
However surprisingly for Hong Kong, mobile users own just 299,720 iPhones, far from Singapore’s figure at 402,000 even though their population is over 7 million. And I believe they do not have a native mobile phone maker either.
Epicentre at 313@Somerset is always packed with people checking out the latest Apple products. (Photo: Orangish)
One particular Apple enthusiast went to the extent of joining the queue some 18 hours before the midnight launch.
17-year-old polytechnic student Dominic Soh arrived at Hall F of Marina Bay Sands at 6 a.m., waiting for SingTel’s iPhone 4 launch at midnight. I even heard that one of my schoolmates skipped school to queue for the iPhone 4.
The iPad launch in Singapore on July 23 was no exception too. Hundreds of eager fans braved long queues and discomfort to get their hands on the coveted Apple device. I remember that day was a working day so I believe many went to work late or took leave just to buy an iPad.
Hundreds waiting patiently outside Wheelock Place Epicentre to get on their hands on Apple's iPad. (ST Photo)
“Determined to lay his hands on the 64GB WiFi + 3G iPad, sales executive Bobysen Francisco ended up queueing for four hours at five different outlets around Orchard Road yesterday before finally hitting the jackpot,” said the blog, quoting The New Paper.
Neither the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab nor Microsoft’s Windows 7 Phone received as much hype or attention as Apple’s.
What do you think — are Singaporeans obsessed with Apple products and if so, why?
And their products do not come cheap – the iPhone 4, which retails for $888 upwards on the Apple online store, is built of parts that cost just US$187.51 (S$241), according to market research firm Isuppli. Of course that figure excludes costs for designing, production and marketing, which are not significant when taking into account that Apple sold more than 8 million iPhone 4s worldwide to date.
What does that say about Singaporeans’ affluence?
The writer is a 16-year-old technology blogger who loves social media and gadgets. He is also Singapore’s No. 1 Twitter user, with 180,000 followers. He also writes a column for www.happymarketer.com
No comments:
Post a Comment