The FINANCIAL — Various innovations are heading to Georgia in 2010. iPad, Sony Ericsson and Nokia new models, and 3D technologies will arrive in Georgia.
The FINANCIAL — Various innovations are heading to Georgia in 2010. iPad, Sony Ericsson and Nokia new models, and 3D technologies will arrive in Georgia. “iPads are expected to start shipping in mid April to our region. We hope to have them in stock by the end of April, at the latest,” says Natalia Davitashvili, CEO of Hamaki LLC, Apple Authorized Dealer.
“Prices have not yet been announced, but from my experience I would expect them to start at around USD 700”, Davitashvili says.
“It’s hard to forecast the sales at this point, but the demand is there and people are lining up to make advance reservations, so we are very optimistic about this product,” she adds.
“A survey by app toolmaker Appcelerator found that app makers considered Apple’s pending tablet to be a much more business-focused device than the iPhone. Apple fans in the US have been pre-ordering the iPad for a week and it looks like Apple will have sold 200,000 by the end of today,” says Daniel Tello, an analyst blogger.
“For starters, Apple has ported over iWork, its Office-compatible productivity suite, while giving it a multitouch makeover. Aligned with the idea of using the iPad as a Keynote presentation tool, the iPad now supports VGA output for driving a projector directly. Users can markup slides and point with a virtual laser pointer as the presentation continues,” APPLEINSIDER analyst explains.
“The iPhone can already access files in users’ mailboxes or stored on web servers; using Apple’s free iDisk app, it can also access files from the WebDAV-based MobileMe cloud file server. The iWork apps Apple demonstrated each load their documents without needing a conventional file browser. Just like the iPhone’s existing Photos, Notes, and iTunes apps, their documents are managed by the app itself, rather than being strewn around a filesystem for users to organize on their own. The iPad will sync documents with iTunes just like the iPhone currently does, in addition to accessing cloud, web, and local file shares.”
“iPad is one of the devices we anticipate very much. Apple may also introduce hexacore Mac Pros – professional workstations. Software-wise it would be great to see some multitasking in iPad and iPod touch software, which is believed to be in the works,” says Davitashvili.
“Georgians are good consumers of innovative technologies. The Georgian market absorbs new technologies as soon as they become available. Once a new product is announced – the demand is immediately visible,” says Davitashvili.
“For early adopters price is not the determining factor – once the technology is there, they want it all and they want it now. No matter what. However, good things come to those who wait – often new features as well as lower prices are introduced in 2nd or 3rd generations of the product,” says Davitashvili.
iPad will arrive at Apple stores from 3 April. It is predicted that the first year’s sales could reach 5 million. iPad reached an estimated 91,000 sales in just six hours of availability. The price of iPad starts from 499 USD.
“New models of Sony Ericsson will appear worldwide and in the Georgian market as well in the second quarter of the year,” says Zaza Asatiani, Marketing Manager of Trade House Goletiani, the official partner of Nokia and Sony Ericsson in Georgia.
“The customer will be able to buy in our net a new Sony Ericsson touch-screen model called Vivaz in the early future. This model, along with all modern technologies, has very good quality 8MP camera and can screen High Definition (HD) videos,” says Asatiani.
“As the launch of the mentioned model in Georgia is planned from the second quarter of the year, therefore the information on its price will be known a bit later. I can just mention that it will not be a model from a high price segment,” says Asatiani.
Sony is mostly focusing on 3D technologies in the year 2010.
“Most attention is being paid to Oled and LCD televisions with 3D affect, as well as Sony 3D Blu Ray player. People will have the opportunity to buy 3D affect TVs together with special glasses for home watching.
At present, there is a shortage of 3D films, just Avatar and Alice in Wonderland.
As soon as there is the technology and a wide supply of 3D films, the products will enter the Georgian market. We suppose this will be at the end of this year,” says Dima Agekyan, General Manager of Sony Centre Tbilisi.
Sony Ericsson had recently showed off its three new smart-phones, two of the latest handsets will use Google Android. Android is a mobile operating system that uses a modified version of Linux Kernel.
“The advantages of these models, along with high techniques, are affordable prices. Entering Google in the mobile phone business totally changed game directives that existed before. The new operation system developed by Google – Mobile OS Android – is one of the most progressing operating systems and many manufacturers are incorporating it,” says Asatiani.
According to Asatiani mobile phones manufacturers realized that the war of Mega-pixels and Megabytes is not effective and the future is in variety of services.
Nokia has offered its consumers the Ovi service which unites various services and is available for most Nokia models.
“Ovi offers customers a GPS navigation system for pedestrians and drivers absolutely free.
Ovi is an absolutely free service and though the info campaign is not ended yet we can already talk about the success of the project in Georgia,” declares Asatiani.
“If we do not take into account falls during the world’s economic crisis, it can be said that telecommunication companies have increased financing of R&D departments. If in previous years there were just a few companies who spent 10-15% of their income on R&D, in 2010-2012 it will be a standard,” says Asatiani.
“Intensive works are in progress for reducing energy consumption by mobile phones.
Not long ago Nokia filed a US patent application for a phone that can work continuously without requiring to be plugged into a wall socket for a recharge, just buy a phone and enjoy in unlimited freedom because you’ll never need a charger again. Sounds great doesn’t it?” he adds.
“As for Sony Ericsson – it is the first company who took into account environmental problems and stated to use materials which can be fully recycled. There are some Eco-friendly SE models on the market already. SE also works to integrate Sony’s video Gaming console: Playstation with its mobile phones,” declares Asatiani.
“In fact, adaptation to new technologies is easier for the people who deal with Hi-Tech from childhood rather than for those who have to deal with it later on.
Therefore, our new generation has equal opportunities and all recourses to be as adapted to high techniques as Japanese or Americans.
There are no statistics on how quickly/easily Georgians adapt to new technologies,” says Asatiani.
“The first month of product introduction generates the most sales, as the product is new, more innovative and if together with this the marketing tools are used efficiently and people are informed of new arrivals,” says Agekyan.
Asatiani says that there are actually some cases when the sales of the first week are equal to the total sales of the product during its life cycle. However, sometimes it happens on the contrary when the sales improve gradually.
“The sales of the new product depend on several factors: how well is the consumer informed about the new product, first price and further price policy,” says Asatiani.
Davitashvili says that they always have increased demand for a new product in the first month, usually some products get updates once a year, while others twice a year.
“There is problem while adapting to the new technologies in Georgia. Our consumers are always informed about new technologies and request superior products, however, only products do not influence the good quality of the show. If you want to get superior quality from watching a film, as well as a high-tech screen you should buy a good quality disk,” says Agekyan.
Price plays a significant role when new products arrive on the market, there are both prices for the products and consumer switching costs. Consumers might find it difficult to adapt to changed technologies. However, there are still early-adapters in Georgia who are willing and open to new innovations.
Asatiani believes that price plays a significant role when adapting to new technologies.
“Only a small number of customers can fully realize all the advantages of new technologies. Consequently, if these techniques will not be affordable, if there will be an effective advertising campaign, only a small part of the population will have it,” he adds.
Ovi Maps rack up almost 1.5 million downloads. The top five markets downloading the new version of Ovi Maps are China, Italy, UK, Germany and Spain. While the top five most popular Nokia devices installing the service were: the 5800 Xpress Music, N 97 mini, N97, 5230 and E72.
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