Tuesday, Apr 30, 2013
Dubai: Chip maker Intel is extending its focus on smartphones and tablets as the computer market is weakening year on year due to the cannibalisation of media tablets.
“We don’t believe that computers are dying. Now consumers are focusing more on smartphones and tablets and this is also part of a PC experience. We are trying to cover all these segments,” Khaldoun Aboul Saoud, regional manager for markets development at Intel, told Gulf News after launching the first Atom processor powered tablet running on Android platform and made by Asus.
“We started Intel Atom processors on Windows tablets and it was a success. We will be supporting multiple platforms the way we support different operating systems on PCs,” he said.
Intel sees a great future in tablets. The usage model has “changed.”
He said the new convertible ultrabooks, which can be used as a tablet as well as a laptop, will gain momentum this year.
The seven-inch Asus Fonepad with 3G voice and data facility is competitively priced and targeted at consumers who do not want to carry two devices at the same time. It is priced at Dh999.
“It is ideal to have a larger screen with entertainment, social media and other online activities now playing an increasingly important part in our mobile lifestyles. We are very excited to bring our latest innovation to this market,” said Leon Yu, Asus Middle East Regional Director for System Product Group.
According to a study conducted by telecom services provider 02, consumers spend more time on internet than making calls on a smartphone. On average, a user spends more than 24 minutes on internet while a user spends more than 17 minutes on social media and more than 15 minutes on listening to music. For making calls, a user spends just over 12 minutes.
He said that Asus took this into consideration before launching this device in the market.
Asus targets to double its global tablet sales this year to 12 million from 6.3 million last year.
Dubai is the first in the emerging markets to launch the tablet.
Saoud said that Intel will support all brands. Android has been quickly adopted by consumers and that has helped us a lot. Windows will be there but the usage model has changed. Users don’t need more than an Atom processor for tablets and it gives more battery life and consumes less power.
By Naushad K.?Cherrayil Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
