Cheaper contract options driving a major shift in smartphone penetration rates
According to statistics released by local online cellular contract comparison engine Phonefinder.co.za, the entry level smartphone market has experienced a significant spike since mid-2016, due largely to the affordability of devices that offer advanced features and capabilities.
According to Lance Krom, founder and managing director at Phonefinder, smartphone manufacturers are now catering to the mass market with affordable devices that offer a quality of Internet and camera experience – the two most important features in this market segment, according to polling conducted by Phonefinder – that was previously only found in top-end smartphones.
“Traditionally this market segment has had to be content with prepaid airtime and feature phones due to the higher price tag of smartphones,” explains Krom. “However, as more manufacturers have entered the local market, particularly over the last four years, we’ve seen increased competition, both in terms of price and on smartphone features, which have improved exponentially.”
This has accelerated with the emergence of Chinese manufacturer Huawei as a trusted brand that offers quality hardware, particularly entry-level devices that boast similar capabilities to those of the incumbents.
“Since the peripherals like the camera and operating system, in the form of Android, have become largely commoditised across the big brands, and the addition of other key features such as larger memories, dual SIM options, and external slots, we’re starting to witness a massive shift in cellphone purchasing behaviour,” believes Krom.
“While most consumers in this market segment don’t have the financial ability to buy smartphones outright, the lower cost of these feature-packed devices means that contracts are now a viable alternative for those looking to upgrade from feature phones,” continues Krom. “The under R200 per month category has therefore become the most popular contract marketed via the website, with the category experiencing a significant spike since 2016,” he adds.
And with greater parity on device specs, Krom says brand loyalty is no longer the dominant factor when making a purchase decision. “Users of the Phonefinder online service are primarily focused on price, which means they’re willing to switch between devices if the contract package is right,” he says, “as witnessed by the spike we saw in Huawei devices in the second half of 2016.”
According to statistics released by Phonefinder for the last 12 months, Huawei briefly usurped Samsung’s dominant position as the most popular phone brand, accounting for up to 50 per cent of all contracts purchased between August and December last year.
“The release of the Huawei G series and Lite series enabled the upwardly mobile emerging middle market to attain a really good smartphone at an affordable price, which is what we attribute this spike to,” adds Krom.
Since the start of 2017, however, Samsung’s J5 and Grand Prime Plus phones have helped it regain its dominant position among price-sensitive contract subscribers. “While these can technically be considered Samsung’s entry level models, the specs of the devices are excellent.” Other popular devices, according to Phonefinder, include Sony’s Xperia range, the Xiaomi-MI4, and LG G4.
“Many networks are now also pushing older iPhones – fourth and fifth generation models – into the market at a lower cost, which is gaining traction among this highly aspirational market segment. In addition, networks have also introduced white-label smartphones to lower the device component of the contract cost and make it even more affordable and attractive than pre-paid,” continues Krom.
“Above all else, though, our customers are price sensitive, which means it is the data and value adds of the contract deal that result in a sale, with only secondary importance given to the phone brand and model selected,” continues Krom.
Regardless of the reason, the spike is contract sales and website traffic to the Phonefinder site over the past 12 months points to a major shift happening in the market. “More consumers are opting to move away from prepaid on feature phones as they’re finally able to afford smartphones, to benefit from everything this advanced technology has to offer, thanks to the boom in more affordable contract options,” concludes Krom.
About Phonefinder
Founded in 2012 by Lance Krom, www.phonefinder.co.za is a local independent, free-to-use cellular contract price comparison website for consumers. It currently receives 7,000 unique visitors a day, generating 200,000 impressions a month. Visitors can compare over 2,000 cell phone contract deals, searchable according to various criteria, including handset manufacturer, network service provider and price range, to find the best option within budget. Phonefinder lists every current deal offered by all South African cell phone service providers. Phonefinder uses this information to generate an average of 1,500 sales leads a day for mobile network operators (MNO) and network aggregators. The details of registered users who’ve selected a contract are sent directly to the relevant service provider’s sales call centre, where a call centre agent is prompted to follow up and complete the sales process. Direct marketing opportunities are also offered to Phonefinder’s opted-in database of over 200,000 consumers. In addition, the website offers cell phone repairs and insurance, as well as value-added services (VAS) services such as unlimited music, WiFi Hotspotter and MagZone.
