Chinese comms giant Huawei eyes Lao market potential
Chinese comms giant Huawei eyes Lao market potential
Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider from China, has recognised the opportunities in the Lao smartphone business and will seek to increase its market share.
On Wednesday, Huawei Technologies (Lao) Sole Co.,Ltd officially launched its authorised flagship store on Dongpalan Road in Sisattanak district, Vientiane, to fully enter into the Lao smartphone market.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Huawei Lao Office, Mr Huang Junwu said that he believed the Huawei-made high-technology smartphone, which sells at a more affordable price than other brands, will enable the company to gain a remarkable increase in its share of the smartphone market in Laos.
The company recently unveiled the Huawei Ascend P7 in Paris, the latest flagship smartphone that Huawei hopes will help the company to gain popularity among smartphone users and corner a greater share of the market.
Building on the success of the Huawei Ascend P6, the new 4G LTE-enabled smartphone features ultra-fast connectivity and easier navigation in a well-crafted design.
The new smart phone also features a 5-inch full high definition display, industry-leading 8MP front-facing and 13MP rear-facing cameras, and the latest intuitive Emotion UI 2.3.
Mr Huang said Huawei P7 can take rich pictures at night or indoors. “Huawei Ascend P7 has a unique ‘Ultra Snapshot Function' to capture spontaneous moments before they are gone,” the director told the Vientiane Times.
This feature eliminates the need to unlock the handset, find the camera icon, focus, and take the photo. Instead, the camera can be accessed from locked mode in just 1.2 seconds so users can be ready to take any photo any time.
“We are confident that within the next two or three years, Huawei smartphones will be very popular among Lao customers,” Mr Huang said through an interpreter. The company has set a sales target for Huawei Ascend P7 at 10 million units worldwide.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice Mayor of Vientiane Mr Keophilavanh Aphaylath welcomed the presence of the Huawei authorised store in the capital.
Mr Keophilavanh expressed hope that Huawei will bring more high technology products to Laos, offering more choice for customers and contributing to developing the telecommunications sector and socio-economic development in Laos as a whole.
Charge D'affaires of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Laos, Mr Wu Zhiwu and relevant officials from both sides also attended the opening ceremony.
Huawei, the world's third largest smartphone maker for 2013, provides a range of products including mobile phones, mobile broadband (MBB) devices, home devices, and software appliances that run on these products.
The company has more than 20 years of expertise in the ICT sector with an extensive global network, vast global business operations and well-established partner relationship.
The company's products and services are employed in over 170 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population. Some 160,000 employees worldwide have been employed by the company.
Last year, the company earned revenue of almost US$39 billion. Huawei Consumer Business Group sold 128 million devices in 2013, including 60 million mobile phones, 44.5 million mobile broadband devices and 24.4 million home devices.
Huawei has had a representative office in Laos for about 15 years. It now employs nearly 70 people, 75 percent of whom are Lao.
In Laos, the company has a strong relationship with all the telecom operators like Lao Telecom, ETL, Unitel, Beeline and Skytel. At the same time, Huawei Lao office also cooperates with the Lao government on some projects. The company plans to set up 50 retail stores across Laos. It already has W&W Computer and the LTC customer service centre.
In 2008, Huawei built the first 3G network in the capital Vientiane. And then in 2012, during the Asia-Europe Summit, the company upgraded the network in Vientiane to 4G capabilities.
In addition, the company attaches attention to social responsibility. In 2011, it handed over 100 PC's to the Lao Prime Minister's Office.
In 2012, during the South East Asia University Sport Meetings held in Vientiane, the company's Lao office provided electric cars to the National University of Laos for use during the Asean University Games.
Last year, it donated cash through the Lao government to help the people who suffered from flooding in the southern provinces.
It also helped the Lao Special Olympic athletes to attend sports meetings in Australia. Up to now, over 200 Lao ICT engineers have been trained by the Huawei company.
Asked about Huawei's outlook for the duo brand (Huawei and Honor) approach, Mr Huang said the Honor series focuses on young, heavy-internet users and includes a portfolio of star models including Honor 3X/3C and X1.
The price of the Honor 3X/3C will be cheaper than the Ascend P7. Mr Huang added that the Huawei brand focuses both on carrier contract devices and open market channels.
vientiane times
