Research: One billion feature phones will be sold within the next three years

In contrast to the smartphone market, which shrank in 2018, the market for traditional telephones, also known as feature phones, has continued to grow over the past three years.

Σin fact according to her recent research Counterpoint Research in 2019 just over 400 million phones of this type are expected to be sold. In fact, the upward trend is expected to continue with the shipments of feature phones estimated to reach one billion within the next three years.

The growth will be led by the markets of India, the Middle East and Africa, covering almost three quarters of the market share for 2019, according to Peter Richardson, Director of Research at Counterpoint Research.

«In the markets of India, the Middle East and Africa, the shipments of feature phones will reach about 800 million from one billion. which will be traded worldwide within the next three years. Globally, feature phones are expected to generate $ 16 billion in revenue over the next three years", Reports o Mr. Richardson.

While India remains the largest market in terms of sales volume of this type of phone, it is followed by Bangladesh and Nigeria. In the African market, in fact, the dominant brands are Itel and TECNO.

However, the revival of the well-known Nokia also contributed significantly to the success of the feature phones. The Indian market, of course, is also dominated by the popular Jio Phone, the smartphones that combine a processor and an operating system that supports the advanced features of a smartphone into a traditional telephone. The Jio Phone uses the KaiOS operating system. KaiOS is even expanding its reach in Africa. At the latest Mobile World Congress technology show in Barcelona, ​​KaiOS announced its partnership with Africa's Orange to launch $ 20 KaiOS mobile phones in 16 more countries in Africa and the Middle East.

But what are the reasons that many markets worldwide prefer such "obsolete" phones.

According to market sources, the most important factor is their affordable price, which enables them to be supplied even by the lower economic strata of the population.

There are more than 3 billion people worldwide living on less than $ 2,50 a day. These people, of course, do not have the money for a smartphone, nor for the data services required to use each smartphone. A simple traditional telephone in combination with basic mobile services is the best possible opportunity for them.
At the same time, the integration of 4G networks in these phones is another factor that will contribute to the growth of their sales.

In addition, sales of this type of phone are driven by the need for durability but also for durability, two criteria that are becoming increasingly important when choosing a device by users. In the case of feature phones both are much more efficient than any smartphone.

«The emerging markets of India and Nigeria have the largest number of people without access to electricity. However, the telephone remains an important part of people's lives in these areas as well. Due to the lack of electricity, the user is forced to charge his mobile phone in public or private charging stations. This is why longer battery life plays a key roleAdds the analyst They weigh Misra.

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