smartphone competition

PREVIOUSLY cell phones were used for simple communication, such as phone calls and Short Message Service (SMS) only. However, as the technology develops, they are also being used for listening to music, taking photographs, saving pictures and browsing the Internet.

Along with such technological development operators are offering fast access to the Internet at affordable rates, while cell phone manufacturers or vendors are launching sophisticated cell phones that feature fast access to the Internet as well. This year major makers, such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung and LG are competing in the launch of smartphones with fast access to the Internet. It will certainly be a tough competition.

Sony Ericsson, for example, has already released such smartphones recently, such as Sony Ericsson W995, which was launched in the second quarter of 2009. This smartphone has the following features for its fast Internet and data access: 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 2 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA and Bluetooth.

Earlier Motorola also launched its latest model, the Motorola A3100. Although small in size the A3100 also has a fast Internet and data connection based on the following features: 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth and A-GPS. This smart phone, which uses American technology, uses the Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional system with a CPU made by Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz CPU.

Meanwhile Samsung's products are not to be underestimated. This South Korean vendor has launched Samsung i8910 Omnia HD, with a large 3.7 inch screen (OLED type with 16 million colors). It has a faster internet and data connection based on the following features: 3G HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA, Bluetooth, A-GPS support. It also has an excellent camera (8 megapixel, autofocus and LED flash).

Two other smartphones launched by Samsung this year are Samsung S5600 and Samsung S8300 Ultra TOUCH, both of which have features that are similar to Samsung i8910 Omnia HD.

LG, another South Korean vendor that does not want to lose out in the competition, has released a sophisticated smartphone this year. The first model is LG KM900 Arena with a TFT capacitive touchscreen with 16 million colors and Flash UI. The second smartphone is LG KM730, which has similar features to LG KM900 Arena, plus the following features: 3G HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g.

Indeed many users in Indonesia love BlackBerry and iPhone 3G, but this does not mean that other manufacturers are sitting idle.

Nokia, which is the world's most popular cellphone manufacturer, has launched a number of sophisticated smartphones this year, such as the Nokia E75 and Nokia N86 as well as three musical cell phones, the Nokia 5730 XpressMusic, Nokia 5330 XpressMusic, and Nokia 5030 XpressMusic. However, the most exclusive is Nokia N97, which is the first NSeries with a 3.5 inch touchscreen.

Through N97 Nokia shows the supremacy of its NSeries as the king of multimedia cell phones. If the earlier Nokia 5800 XpressMusic appeared less prestigious due to its standard features, the N97 has features that will make delight everyone.

N97 is the first cellphone with an 32GB internal memory, which is larger than an SSD netbook and it is also the first one with a social location concept using the A-GPS censor and electronic compass. This concept is very useful for updating your social networks.

Its 3.5 inch 16:9 format touchscreen makes it an entertaining cell phone. For those who like to type it has a sliding QWERTY keyboard (similar to Windows Mobile based cell phone). Virtual touch input is also available. To save space there are only three lines of buttons. The viewing angle of the screen can be adjusted and at a glance looks like HTC TyTN II.

The battery of N97 can be used to play music for 1.5 days nonstop. It has a 5 megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens. One can make a video recording with a 16:9 aspect ratio of DVD quality.

The competition is getting tougher not only among cell phone manufacturers, but also with the computer makers who are now producing sophisticated cell phones. After Apple with its phenomenal product, iPhone, Acer is also trying its luck in the smart phone business.

After acquiring E-TEN, the smart phone maker, this year Acer is crowding the market with no less than nine variants. "The launch is to demonstrate our position as the leader in the fast moving mobility products," said Director of Acer Smart Handheld Asia Pacific, Kamarudin Bin Abdul Kahar, at the launching program of Acer's smartphones in Jakarta on Aug. 4, 2009.

The nine smartphones released by Acer in the Indonesian market are targeted for the business segment and those who prefer the latest technology. Until now four have been officially marketed here.

The first is Acer DX900, which has a dual sim card feature. The second is X960, a compact and slim smart phone that has numerous high-tech features. Its Intuitive Widget-based User Interface feature makes it possible to quickly access emails, messages and contact numbers. The third is F900, which has been created to give a unique browsing experience of the Internet. Its 3.8 WVGA inch touchscreen provides a lot of information. And, the last one is Smartphone M900, which is aimed at businesspeople. M900 has a qwerty keyboard, synchronization to computers and fingerprint sensor to safeguard work.

All four smartphones use Windows Mobile 6.1 for its operation system, but soon Acer will change the 6.1 version to 6.5. Another operation system will also be installed in the future, Android which has a nickname, "Donut". "We will launch our smartphones with the Android operation system next year," said Kamarudin. (Reyhan Fabiano)

The Jakarta Post, October 20, 2009

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/20/tough-competition-smartphone-business.html

Perang paket data internet.. hahahha

AGUS Majidi sighed with relief when he finally got his own Internet connection. As a university student, he was pleased that he would no longer have to go to an internet kiosk (warnet) but could now use a CDMA modem, Venus VT-12, to surf the Net from his lodgings.

By paying Rp 375,000, he was satisfied with the modem manufactured by Fren, which has a speed of 230.4 Kbps - faster than the cable modem and Wi-Fi (64 Kbps) or PSTN modem (56 Kbps).

Today, not only Fren but also other operators are involved in the data communication business. Although some companies do not find the business too profitable, it is growing at a rapid pace.

Smart Telecom, for example, sells cell phones that can also function as Internet modems with a subsidized subscription rate. However, Smart Telecom still finds it possible to make money with its subscription rate. "Our records show a significant increase in sales," the West Java Regional Commercial head of PT Sinar Mas Telecommunication (Smart), Jabar Antony Pandapotan, told detikcom.

As a result, data usage has shown an increasing trend over the past year. However, he admits that at peak hours, such as lunch or dinner time, the network experiences some connection trouble or delays at several locations. That is the natural tendency of wireless connections, either CDMA or even GSM, in that the network becomes congested during peak hours when there are many users.

Information data communication is a process of sending and receiving data and information from two or more devices, such as computers, laptops, printers or other communication devices, which are connected within a network, both either on local or on a wider network, like the Internet.

Generally, there are two types of data communication: terrestrial infrastructure and satellite. Terrestrial infrastructure uses cable or wireless for access. This type involves a large investment. Some of the services included in terrestrial connection are: Direct Data Connection (SDL), Frame Relay, VPN Multi-Service and Data Package Communication Connection (SKDP).

Meanwhile, data communication via satellite usually covers a larger area and can cover areas where it is not possible to construct terrestrial infrastructure, although it takes longer for the communication process. The weakness of the satellite type is disturbance from sun radiation (sun outage). The worst disturbance occurs once every 11 years.

The main problem with both types of data communication is limited bandwidth, which of course can be expanded. Access through satellite usually experiences a propagation delays so terrestrial infrastructure has to be built to strengthen it.

With all the plus and minus points, all operators offer various attractive packages. Telkomsel, for instance, offers a package called Telkomsel Flash. Using a slogan offering unlimited use, customers are rushing to switch to the Telkomsel package, which has a daringly low rate, starting from Rp 125,000 with data access up to 256 kbps for the first 3 GB. The balance of the "unlimited" offer is up to 64 kbps.

Telkomsel also has an economical data package that can save customers up to 80 percent of the normal rate. This operator is offering a Rp 150,000 package for 5 MB that is valid for one week. This Bridge DataRoam service is the result of cooperation between Telkomsel with its member operators, namely Airtel (India), AIS (Thailand), CSL (Hong Kong), CTM (Macau), Globe Telecom (Philippines), Maxis (Malaysia), SK Telecom (Korea), SingTel Mobile (Singapore), SingTel Optus (Australia) and Taiwan Mobile (Taiwan). "We offer customers this service because there is a need for incidental use of data service in the Asia Pacific region," said Telkomsel corporate communications manager Suryo Hadiyanto.

This service can be used abroad as required for data access, for example for BlackBerry, email, chatting, browsing and downloading. The economical 5 MB package can be used for 100 emails and 500 WAP pages. Apart from the weekly package, Telkomsel also has monthly packages, 15 MB for Rp 280,000 and 40 MB Rp 560,000. The international data roaming rate has been simplified into seven country zones without time band. Besides applying the NRTRDE (Near Real Time Roaming Data Exchange), it is a real time system for information dispatch during international roaming communication.

Meanwhile, PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk (XL) is no less innovative with its internet access service. Its latest unlimited access is available for prepaid and post billing XL customers within Greater Jakarta (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi). Ari Tjahjanto, GM Internet and Data Services XL, said the company's unlimited XL internet access meets the requirements of its customers. "We released a similar package in May 2009 and received a positive response," he said.

The latest packages include various volume and validity, such as the 30-day package, 40 MB (Rp 20,000), 130 MB (Rp 50,000), 320 MB (Rp 100,000) and 750 MB (Rp 200,000).

PT Indosat Mega Media (IM2) was the first operator to offer Internet access. And, just like for cell phones, its 3.5 G unlimited prepaid internet access is available through vouchers. Its customers can enjoy high speed access of 256 Kbps with a usage volume of 2GB. The access speed will decrease to 64 Kbps with an unlimited usage volume. The IM2 initial card (Kartu Perdana) costs Rp 250,000 including a Rp 125,000 voucher for unlimited internet access for one month.

IM2 is quite innovative as this month it launched Paket Asik (Enjoyable Package), which is a bundling modem internet broadband 3.5G package with starter pack IM2 Broom, Classic feature, which includes a 20 percent credit bonus. The bonus offer is valid until Dec. 31, 2009. "While other operators are cutting down their customers' quota, IM2 on the other hand is offering more in its Paket Asik. The credit bonus is available when customers recharge their cards," said Indar Atmanto, president director of IM2.

Customers of Paket Asik get a 3.5G internet broadband modem and starter pack with initial credit for as much as 20MB. This quota can only be used after the customer recharges his card with Rp 50,000. After recharging with a credit bonus of 20MB, the total available credit volume becomes 120 MB. Later, every time the customer recharges his or her card by Rp 50,000, there will be a credit bonus as well, which will not extend the validity date.

However, the war among operators is not over yet as each, both CDMA and GSM, will come up with its own effective strategy to lure more customers. If the war proves to be fair and not just a gimmick, then customers will finally profit from it as the rates of data access will become lower and more affordable for many. (Burhanuddin Abe)

The Jakarta Post, October 20, 2009

Resesi hantam pusat perbelanjaan dunia. Jakarta bagaimana?

New York’s Fifth Avenue adalah kawasan ritel termahal di dunia. Paris’s Avenue des Champ-Elysees adalah yang termahal di Eropa. Hongkong’s Causeway Bay adalah yang termahal di Asia Pasifik. Bagaimana kondisi mereka setelah resesi dunia?

LEBIH dari setengah daerah perbelanjaan prestisius di dunia telah terpengaruh oleh resesi ekonomi dunia dimana menurut hasil riset konsultan properti Cushman & Wakefield, 54% dari 274 lokasi perbelanjaan primer dunia mengalami kejatuhan dalam harga rental. Menurut laporan tahunan “Main Streets Across the World” penurunan harga sewa ini merupakan yang terbesar di 24 tahun terakhir. Hanya 18% dari seluruh lokasi perbelanjaan primer yang mengalami kenaikan harga sewa.

Publikasi tahunan Main Streets Across the World menggambarkan barometer dari kekuatan sektor ritel dan popularitas dari berbagai daerah perbelanjaan di 60 negara dunia. Hampir sepuluh dari tempat-tempat perbelanjaan paling mahal di dunia mengalami penurunan harga sewa atau paling tidak dalam keadaan statis karena para peritel menghentikan ekspansinya. New York’s Fifth Avenue tetap menjadi daerah perbelanjaan paling mahal di dunia dengan harga sewa $US 1,700 per sq feet per tahun, turun sebesar 8.1% dari tahun 2008. Fifth Avenue merupakan daerah perbelanjaan termahal dalam 8 tahun terakhir ini. Hongkong Causeway Bay dan Paris’s Avenue des Champs – Elysees menempati posisi kedua dan ketiga.

Kaufingerstrasse di Munich, Jerman, merupakan daerah perbelanjaan dengan kenaikan sewa tertinggi sebesar 7.1%, hingga merubah posisinya ke 10 besar pusat perbelanjaan termahal, yaitu posisi ke sembilan dari posisi ke duabelas sebelumnya. Grafton di Dubin, Irlandia, adalah daerah perbelanjaan dengan penurunan harga sewa yang paling besar di 10 besar pusat perbelanjaan termahal, yaitu sebesar 22.5% dari urutan ke lima turun ke urutan delapan Padahal tahun lalu Grafton menempati posisi lima besar untuk pertama kalinya.

Secara global, pertumbuhan harga sewa tertinggi terjadi di Sao Paulo, Brazil, dengan kenaikan harga sewa sebesar 111% dan 79.3% di lokasi Alameda Lorena dan Iguatemi.Di Asia Pacific, daerah CBD Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, mengalami kenaikan terbesar yaitu sebesar 50%. Sementara di Eropa kenaikan terbesar terjadi di Rue St Catherine, Bordeauz, Perancis, sebesar 17.6%

Secara global, penurunan terbesar terjadi di Colaba Causeway, Mumbai, sebesar 63.5%. Di Amerika, Sao Conrado Fashion Mall, Rio de Jeneiro, turun sebesar 53.4%. Di Eropa, Calea Victoricci, Bukarest, turun sebesar 48.1%

John Stratchan, global head of retail, Cushman & Wakefield, mengatakan: “12 bulan terakhir ini merupakan masa yang paling sulit yang pernah terjadi di sektor ritel dimana tingkat penjualan dan daya beli menurun di banyak tempat”. Di 12 bulan sebelumnya, pasar ritel global memang kelihatan masih cukup kebal tetapi akhir-akhir ini dampak dari resesi ekonomi dunia sudah benar-benar terasa. Berita baiknya adalah, keadaan terburuk sudah berakhir. Perbaikan keadaan ekonomi mulai terasa di banyak negara terutama di Jerman sebagai penggeraknya yang saat ini telah keluar dari masa resesi. Pasti memang akan ada pasar ritel yang masih terus terkena dampak negatif di tahun depan tetapi kita mengharapkan banyak tempat telah kembali menjadi positif.

New York’s Fifth Avenue sekali lagi merupakan daerah perbelanjaan paling mahal di dunia dengan harga sewa sebesar $US1,700 per sq ft per tahun.

Gene Spiegelman, executive vice president, Cushman & Wakefield New York, mengatakan: “Fifth Avenue merupakan lokasi yang tetap memberikan kesempatan primer yang paling besar kepada para pemain ritel dunia untuk mengkomunikasikan “brand” nya kepada masyarakat dunia. Terbatasnya pasokan dan terus meningkatnya permintaan akan ruang ritel di daerah ini telah menahan turunnya nilai rental di daerah Fifth Avenue ini. Daya tahan dari daerah Fifth Avenue juga disebabkan karena daya tariknya yang unik untuk specialty retailer kelas dunia atas kemampuan mereka untuk berada di koridor daerah perbelanjaan paling mahal di dunia. Dengan terjadinya dampak yang cukup signifikan dari keadaan ekonomi dunia, daerah Manhattan dan khususnya Fifth Avenue dapat mempertahankan keadaannya dengan cukup baik dibandingkan dengan lokasi perbelanjaan lainnya”.

Kaufingerstrasse, Munich, Jerman, merupakan daerah dengan kenaikan harga sewa tertinggi yaitu 7.1% dan menaikan posisinya ke sembilan besar dari posisi ke duabelas di tahun sebelumnya.

Inga Schwarz, kepala riset, Cushman & Wakefield, Jerman, mengatakan: “Jerman merupakan salah satu pasar ritel terbesar dan paling stabil di Eropa, ini yang menyebabkan para peritel nasional maupun internasional selalu mempertahankan kota-kota terbesar di agenda mereka. Walaupun keadaan ekonomi dalam keadaan sulit, daya beli masyarakat ternyata cukup baik dan sentimen pasar membaik sejak musim semi. Dengan tingkat permintaan yang cukup tinggi dan pasokan yang terbatas di lokasi-lokasi primer, harga sewa tetap bisa meningkat di masa krisis dan hal ini diharapkan akan terus berlanjut di bulan-bulan yang akan datang. Tingkat ekonomi yang tinggi dari konsumen di Munich dan kesejahteraan yang terus meningkat di negara itu membuat lokasi tersebut menjadi salah satu target peritel internasional untuk melakukan ekspansinya di Jerman. Itulah yang menyebabkan harga rental meningkat di 12 bulan terakhir ini”.

Secara global, kenaikan harga sewa tertinggi terjadi di Sao Paulo, Brazil, dengan kenaikan sebesar 111% dan 79.3% di Alameda Lorena dan Iguatemi.

Milena Morales, manager – riset, Cushman & Wakefield Amerika Selatan, mengatakan: “Walaupun terjadi krisis finansial global, data menunjukan bahwa tingkat penjualan ritel di Brazil telah meningkat sebesar 4.4% di lima bulan pertama tahun ini. Hal ini mengikuti pertumbuhan pasar ritel sebesar 9.1% di tahun 2008. Pengurangan pajak yang dilakukan oleh pemerintah telah membantu meningkatkan daya beli konsumen dan kami tidak melihat banyak toko-toko yang tutup. Karena itu harga sewa ruang ritel terus meningkat, terutama di Sao Paulo di daerah Jardins, seperti Al Lorena dan Haddock Lobo yang telah menarik toko-toko yang dulunya berlokasi di Estados Unidos. Konsumen juga lebih tertarik terhadap barang-barang mewah dan mal-mal kelas atas seperti Iguatemi yang juga menawarkan hiburan dan sistem keamanan yang lebih baik”.

Anthea To, analis ritel, Cushman & Wakefield, mengatakan: “Pasar properti ritel global saat ini kelihatan lebih stabil dan aktivitas yang diperkirakan akan meningkat di bulan-bulan yang akan datang akan menjadi buktinya. Sementara pasokan unit ritel di lokasi primer sangat ketat dan permintaan dari penyewa menunjukan peningkatan di lokasi-lokasi ini, daerah secondary diperkirakan akan menyesuaikan harga sewanya ke tingkat yang lebih rendah karena meningkatnya fokus para peritel ke lokasi AAA dan adanya kecenderungan untuk mengurangi keberadaan mereka di daerah yang kurang menguntungkan. Juga diperkirakan para penyewa akan lebih selektif dalam memilih lokasinya dan pulihnya pertumbuhan harga sewa dalam jangka waktu pendek sepertinya tidak akan terjadi, paling tidak sampai keadaan ekonomi dunia yang lebih luas dan pasar perburuhan menunjukan perbaikan yang lebih baik”. (Cushman & Wakefield, Indonesia, 29 September 2009).

special thanks to:
Om Burhan Abe