Nigeria: Padfone - Smartphone Strategy to Drive the PC Market?

Smartphone is defining the way computer manufacturers go as PC market dwindles. As an alternative route which is what everybody is looking for to bypass this market lull, ASUS has developed a product which uses the smartphone technology to drive the tablet market. Called the padfone, the product has a smartphone and a tablet fused together to deliver double experience in a single unit.

It can be used as smartphone or as a tablet. When the smartphone is fused into the pad, it gives a broader view of the apps and applications on the gadget and can be used to deliver the tablet experience. However the engine room is the smartphone which if taken out reduces the tablet pad to empty casin. That being said however, the tab pad serves as charging port for the device when the battery is weak, meaning that both need each other to function optimally. Padfone was launched in CES event in the USA early January.

Laptops everywhere, but no market

Personal computer sales continues to sink. PC manufacturers are looking for alternative means to remain relevant in the market.

Although, not surprisingly, there was a 7 per cent drop in worldwide PC sales from the previous year during the last quarter of 2013. It's only surprising that it happened at a period when the demand for electronics is supposed to be at its peak. But considering that this marks the seventh consecutive quarter of decreasing PC sales, the shock may not be too much for followers of this market trend.

The resultant effect is that well known PC brands are running into murky waters, realigning and re strategizing to keep afloat. Big brands like HP, Lenovo, Samsung among others have at one time or the other watched their market shares nosedive with severe consequences.

ASUS Talks tough

However, in the midst of this PC market drop, world number 3 PC manufacturers, ASUS is talking tough. It is expressing confidence that with innovation at its disposal, there is always a way to fly when others are cramping.

The company's Regional Director in charge of system Business Group for Turkey, Isreal and Africa, Mr Shawn Chang who visited Nigeria recently recounted how innovation has seen ASUS raise head from the waters when others are sinking.

According to him, "In the past 24 years we have delivered almost 420 million motherboards across the world for manufacture of computers. That makes us available in every 3 computer laptops in the world with 7 percent market share. This is just behind Samsung and Apple. We are known for innovations and have not derailed from that since we started operations. We are currently no 3 computer manufacturers in the world and we are not satisfied yet, because we aim to be number one.

Innovation route

In 2006 we made the first laptop with leather. All the architecture was made in leather. That was quite an innovation. In 2007, we invented the first mini laptop which saw others join the trend few years after. In 2008, we manufactured the first bamboo laptop. It was very expensive, though, because every bamboo was hand craft, but at least we kicked off real green campaign in that direction because bamboo was better in recycling and it's environmentally friendly than plastics.In 2010, we manufactured the first tablet worldwide. In 2011, we also launched the first detachable computers before others came into the technology.

Plans for Africa

In 2013 we did big business in Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia . But to expand our footprint, this year, we hope to move into Algeria, Libya, Uganda Tanzania,Angola and Algeria among others