BenQ-Siemens, innovative mobile communication solutions provider, is gearing up to increase its presence in the Middle East markets with new products offering enhanced integration and communication. The move comes as BenQ-Siemens looks to increase market share in the region’s rapidly expanding markets for mobile communication devices by emphasizing technology as an emphatic part of modern lifestyles. A Madar Research study indicated the overall Arab region market for mobile devices comprising of approximately 52.1 million users in early 2005, which indicated a rapid growth of 49 percent growth over the preceding year. Further, consumer trends indicate rapid mobile turnover as consumers look to upgrade to new devices with increased functionality.
BenQ-Siemens combines BenQ’s multimedia expertise and award-winning designs with Siemens’ engineering heritage and intellectual property to bring new models to market faster than in the past in order to meet high customer expectations and capitalize on the region’s increasing mobile penetration rate.
BenQ-Siemens has launched the world’s first mobile supporting the revolutionary High Speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA) technology that will allow users easy access to high fidelity movies and sound on their mobile devices, and is looking to further utilize the new technology in upcoming mobile devices.
“Mobile communications devices have become essential tools for every business, and the Middle East region has been one of the leading zones to embrace all that the mobile phones industry has to offer. The regional markets have consistently outperformed global growth averages. BenQ-Siemens is very excited at participating in this dynamic playing field, and we aim to provide high utility mobile communications technologies seeking to enhance consumer lifestyles in the region,” said Najeeb Kazi, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, BenQ-Siemens.
BenQ-Siemens has also launched a special multimedia initiative for football fans this summer. For the 2006 World Cup, BenQ-Siemens is providing users a ‘football download special’ service where followers of the sport all over the world can find a wide selection of multimedia add-ons for their phones for a fully customized look. The football special multimedia package includes video clips of the greatest goals and the greatest saves in history as well as mobile applications that keep users appraised of latest results, stats and analyses.
The Madar Research study shows increasingly rapid mobile penetration across the region. In early 2005, the UAE was showing close to 90 percent mobile penetration with approximately 3 million mobile lines representing a 25 percent growth over the previous year. Saudi Arabia had reached penetration levels of 40 percent of the population, with 9 million mobile lines representing a 29 percent growth over the year before. In Oman, a second mobile carrier ended the incumbent’s monopoly, starting at 34.6 percent population penetration with close to 8 million mobile lines. Oman registered high growth rate of 37 percent over mobile lines present the year before.
“BenQ-Siemens is looking to increase its part in the established tradition of mobile services in the region. There is a huge base of existing users that are becoming increasingly discerning in their choice mobile devices and are looking for sophisticated combinations of form and functionality. We are highly confident that BenQ-Siemens’ offerings will enjoy large scale success in the region,” Kazi added
With a total of 12 new products globally launched since January, BenQ-Siemens has already carved a distinct position in the industry offering consumers worldwide a broad and engaging portfolio that encapsulates the combined strengths of Siemens and BenQ. It is now looking to extend its operations to Middle East markets to offer its award-winning range of cross functional and flexible devices.
