Data provider IDC predicts the overall personal computer market in Thailand will shrink by 7 per cent this year from last year, but should recover and return to positive growth in 2014. Meanwhile, the tablet market shows potential to grow by as much as 94 per cent this year, the firm said.
Michael Araneta, head of operations of IDC Thailand, said that there are around 80 million mobile phones active in the nation, against a population of around 65 million people. Therefore, the penetration rate is more than 100 per cent.
The PC market, comprising desktop and notebook computers, is this year expected to see sales of 3.4 million units - 1.6 million desktops and 1.8 million notebooks. As a result, the PC market by the end of this year will be down 7 per cent compared with last year.
However, the desktop PC is not obsolete. It still has a place in the market since customers still use computers or notebooks to manage their work.
"I think that Thailand's ICT market is going to grow, but not by much. Due the local demand situation and the coming [Asean Economic Community], Thai companies have set their strategy to look beyond the local Thai market," Araneta said.
A factor affecting the PC market is that customers have increased demand for tablet PCs, as well as the increased lifecycle of mobile devices from two to three years to three to four years, which enables consumers to delay making decisions on buying a new device. Moreover, the first-car project is also a factor that has made customers delay purchasing computers for home use. However, IDC believes that the overall PC market will recover next year since the PCs and notebooks will come with new features and technology to support the new lifestyles of customers. The products' prices will range between Bt15,000-Bt20,000 per unit.
"With the readiness of 3G infrastructure, the smart-phone market is expected to experience another exceptional year with anticipated growth of 70 per cent. IDC expects high-end smart phones to continue to gain traction, but the majority of the growth is in the rapid expansion of the entry-level smart-phone market," Araneta said.
The PC market, comprising desktop and notebook computers, is this year expected to see sales of 3.4 million units - 1.6 million desktops and 1.8 million notebooks. As a result, the PC market by the end of this year will be down 7 per cent compared with last year.
However, the desktop PC is not obsolete. It still has a place in the market since customers still use computers or notebooks to manage their work.
"I think that Thailand's ICT market is going to grow, but not by much. Due the local demand situation and the coming [Asean Economic Community], Thai companies have set their strategy to look beyond the local Thai market," Araneta said.
A factor affecting the PC market is that customers have increased demand for tablet PCs, as well as the increased lifecycle of mobile devices from two to three years to three to four years, which enables consumers to delay making decisions on buying a new device. Moreover, the first-car project is also a factor that has made customers delay purchasing computers for home use. However, IDC believes that the overall PC market will recover next year since the PCs and notebooks will come with new features and technology to support the new lifestyles of customers. The products' prices will range between Bt15,000-Bt20,000 per unit.
"With the readiness of 3G infrastructure, the smart-phone market is expected to experience another exceptional year with anticipated growth of 70 per cent. IDC expects high-end smart phones to continue to gain traction, but the majority of the growth is in the rapid expansion of the entry-level smart-phone market," Araneta said.
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