Wed, Feb 22, 2006 - Page 10 News List

Design trumps cost for cellphone buyers

CNA , TAIPEI

The design and shape of cellphones is the prime consideration for Taiwanese consumers in selecting which to buy, according to the results of a survey released yesterday by a local market research and consulting firm.

The price is the other major consideration, the survey shows.

The survey of 1,494 cellphone users was conducted by Insight-Xplorer Ltd (創市際) via online questionnaires between Nov. 3 and Nov. 9 last year.

The three most popular cellphone brands among respondents were Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson, followed by OKWAP and BenQ. Rounding out the top 10 list were Panasonic, Samsung, PHS, Sharp and Asus, in that order.

These 10 brands together enjoy an 80 percent share of Taiwan's cellphone market, according to the survey.

Among the top 10 brands domestically, cellphones made by Sharp have the highest average price tag, while those made by BenQ have the lowest.

The survey indicates that Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones are attractive because of their functionality and form. Motorola and BenQ phones, on the other hand, are popular because of their reasonable price and basic features.

Panasonic cellphones' main appeal to consumers is their appearance, while Sharp phones' major attraction is their advanced features such as high-definition imaging and videophone, the survey found.

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