Will Apple replace Nokia smart phones by 2012 in Asia

Apple iPhone is a revolution in the mobile market. It has already captured the US and the UK with 55% and 74% (respectively) mobile internet users using iPhone or iPod. So an obvious eager for the rest of the world is to use the same device (follow the leaders) for mobile internet browsing. The two things that are stopping anyone in the world to try an Apple product is the product availability and the price. There is no doubt that the demand is high. Apple iPhone is introduced to Asian countries lately with very high price tag to it (Rupees 32000 in India = USD700). It is expected that in coming 2 to 3 years, the basic iPhone will be available for as less as USD99 in the Asian countries by which time people will get used to mobile internet and start looking for better products. A recent survey by AdMob ¹ clearly shows that Nokia is still the giant in the mobile market in Asia with about 90% share in smart phone sector in India, Indonesia and Philippines.

Though Nokia has huge market in these countries, the smart phones of Nokia are still struggling to survive (N70 is the only one that could survive for more than 3 years.)

With iPhones and iPods available for less, it is predictable that Nokia will lose its smart phone market to Apple very soon. If the trends follow the same, we might expect an Apple dominated mobile market by 2012.

1. http://metrics.admob.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/AdMob-Mobile-Metrics-Oct-09.pdf

VAT lagi

I always thought customer service is a very basic rule of any business. When I started paying bills on my own at the age of 23, the food courts used to bill only the prices mentioned in the menu. Then they started this service tax (about 5%). It has come to a point where I just shocked to pay 22.5% tax on my bill recently at a Pizzahut outlet. 10% service tax and 12.5% VAT.

VAT the hell?

I cant show my anger on the Govt which for making these rules and exceptions. My vote for anti Govt, never counted (so as yours).

So I decided not to go out and eat. I at least do not want to give away 23 Rupees for every 100 I spend.... Frnds.. don't even try to look at Pizzahut .. VAT lalegi..

P.S - “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” -Gandhi