Smartphone- Everyone’s lifeline
Phone and computer mashup brought to life a magical device called Smartphone. Bring together a phone and Internet and what you get is a large screen phone which can be used for doing anything. The first Smartphone was invented in the year 1992 and it was called IBM Simon. With the invention of iPhone in the year 2007, Smartphone became a mass consumption product.
“Update: ZeroWaste is now InstaCash”
When we talk about Smartphones in India, which is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it is currently the 2nd largest mobile handset market in the world. One of the reasons being there is a continuous increase in disposable income which has resulted in radical shift in the consumer behavior. Mobile phones have become essential parts of personal and business life. The mature Indian mobile consumers are increasing their preference for high-end handsets and young demographics desire to use mobile web technologies that could see the Smartphone markets soar. With the shelf life of a cell phone being only 24 months for an average consumer, the flow of old phones into the re-commerce industry has increased.
Listed below are the significant consumer behavior patterns that affect the sale and buying of Smartphones in India:
1. I want the best phone
We want to have the latest phone in the market even though it may be expensive. The day iPhone6 was set to launch many had already decided to purchase it. It didn’t matter if their present phone was just 4–5 months old.
Another example is One Plus, a Chinese Smartphone. It has some brilliant features like blasting fast performance and good screen. It stirred the market with an awesome marketing strategy. In advance of the OnePlus 2 launch, One Plus assured customers that obtaining invites would make it easier and handsets would ship a lot quicker than the OnePlus One. This unique process accumulated many buyers. The reason being the customers could buy a Smartphone which was not being sold in the market. The I-have-that-phone-but-you-don’t ideology worked.
2. Brand matters!
We all know it and we all do it. When it comes to possessing a phone, a Smartphone is necessary. Not just any Smartphone but the best and more expensive one than the other person. Today there are over 140 million Smartphone users in urban India. Before, having a phone was a luxury. Now what matters more is the brand of the mobile phone. No one asks- Do you have a phone? The question asked today is- Which Smartphone do you have? The new brands which don’t make much impact on the market are considered “less good”.
3. I want my PC in my Phone
We want everything on our fingertips and a Smartphone aptly does that. It combines not just a PC but also a camera, radio and mp3 player into one device. From internet facilities and gaming to calendar and notepad, it caters the infinite needs of every individual. This has brought down the sale of PCs.
There was a time when we had to wait till we reached home to upload photos on Facebook. But now it’s different. You take a picture and upload it on Facebook from your Smartphone. By the time you reach home, all your friends know about it and a detailed analysis is already done.
4. Smartphones make life easier
Beyond voice, three main trends shaping the so-called mobile culture: communication services such as voice, text and pictures; wireless internet services such as browsing, corporate access and e-mail, and different media services such as motion pictures, games and music. Consumers value Smartphone features that enhance their personal time planning. These high-rated features include calendar and e-mail services. It can also be used for transferring funds, booking a cab, reading a book, etc. which was impossible to do some years back. There are millions of apps and more are being created to make the consumer’s life easier than ever.
Another reason why Smartphones make life easier, each consumer looks for different features while buying a smart phone. Like, some want a phone with good camera, for gaming or video watching, etc. Smartphone companies cater to those needs by bringing out phones that are built to serve a specific purpose.
5. Need to stay connected
Connectivity is a necessity, not just food or shelter. In the present generation friends are essential for survival. Every event and emotion has to be shared with another person unlike before when we celebrated birthday only with the people next to us. With internet services just a touch away, it has become easy for consumers to stay connected with the world around them, be it news, entertainment or messaging services.
Smartphones have become the lifeline of every individual. With more innovations to come, it sure is going to boost the Smartphones market in India. India is set to become an even larger market with the growth of Smartphones to over 650 million in the next 4 years. With this growth the re-commerce market will be boosted.
Note: This post was originally published in January 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.