Tag: singapore

Mobile commerce heating up in the Asia-Pacific market

| February 6, 2013

Mobile commerce in asia pacificMobile commerce becomes a major focus of Asian retailers

Mobile commerce is gaining steam in the Asian Pacific market. The proliferation of smart phones, tablets, and wireless Internet is allowing consumers to move away from their PCs and traditional stores to participate in a new trend that has been emerging in industries all over the world. Euromonitor International, a leading market research and analysis firm, suggests that the growing adoption of mobile technology in the Asia-Pacific region is spurring retailers to delve more seriously into the field of mobile commerce.

Retailers adopting mobile commerce more quickly than those in the West

Retailers in the Asia-Pacific market have been provoked to aggressive action on the matter and have been adopting mobile commerce much more rapidly than those in other markets. Many of these retailers have begun developing mobile applications that allow consumers to shop more effectively from their smart phones and tablets. Euromonitor International expects that the aggressive adoption of mobile commerce among Asian retailers will only continue to pick up momentum in the coming months.

PayPal Singapore anticipates major growth in coming years

This analysis corresponds with that coming from PayPal Asia-Pacific, which suggests that consumers are becoming more apt to use their mobile devices to pay for products. Moreover, these consumers are more likely to spend large sums of money than those that do not participate in mobile commerce. According to PayPal, mobile payments in Singapore came in at $34 million in 2010 and more than $259 million in 2011. PayPal anticipates mobile commerce in Singapore alone will reach $2.4 billion by the end of 2015.

Groupon model proves popular with retailers

Mobile commerce has opened new possibilities for consumers throughout Asia. One of the business models that has become very popular with retailers embracing mobile commerce is allowing consumers to purchase products online and claim their purchase in person or have it otherwise mailed to them. This model was pioneered by Groupon Singapore, which is now being adopted by numerous retailers throughout the market due to its convenience.

Apple losing ground in prominent markets

| January 29, 2013

Apple losing ground in AsiaConsumer fatigue threatens Apple in Asia

The iPhone continues to be a rampaging success in the U.S. and European markets, but fatigue may be setting in for those in the Asian market. Some of Asia’s most influential cities are beginning to show signs of iPhone fatigue, especially as a new generation of consumers, who have grown up steeped in technology, begin to show less interest in the popular mobile device. Consumers in both Singapore and Hong Kong are beginning to look for alternatives to Apple, which may have a dramatic impact on the company’s future.

Apple continues focus on mobile world

Apple has seen remarkable success in its mobile ventures and has adopted a very strict focus on the mobile world in general. The introduction of the iPhone solidified the company’s hold on the mobile space. As the years have gone by, the company has introduced several new iterations of the iPhone, each featuring new technology and services that Apple believed to be ideal for consumers. The company has also entered into the tablet market with the iPad, a venture that has also proven to be rampantly successful.

Market share dropping quickly in Singapore

While Apple has enjoyed the worldwide success of its various mobile products, its grasp on the Asian market is beginning to loosen. This is due to a number of factors, including iPhone fatigue, and the desire that many consumers are showing for other brands, particularly those from Samsung. According to StatCounter, a traffic measuring service that collects data from more than 3 million websites, Apple’s share of mobile devices in Singapore dropped significantly in 2012. StatCounter shows that in this month alone, Apple’s market share dropped by 50%.

Consumers in Hong Kong and elsewhere show favor for Android

Similar results are being seen in Hong Kong. Approximately 30% of all mobile devices therein come from Apple. In both markets, the Android platform is picking up much of the slack. This may be due to the fact that some of the latest Android devices include NFC technology, which allows for a wide range of new services, including mobile commerce, that are absent from t he iOS platform.