A new Arab Advisors Group’s survey of cellular users in Saudi Arabia revealed insightful details on the smartphones adoption and usage patterns in the Kingdom.
A new major cellular phone survey of cellular users in Saudi Arabia was concluded by the Arab Advisors Group in October 2011. The survey report, “Saudi Smartphone Survey 2011” was released on November 3, 2011 and provides the results of a major comprehensive survey of cellular users in the Kingdom.
The survey covered general cellular usage habits; smartphone adoption and usage habits; smartphone awareness, cellular handsets’ brands and models in addition to tablets availability among respondents, representatives said.
The survey revealed that 47% of the respondents who use applications in Saudi Arabia prefer to use them in the Arabic language compared to 8.2% in each of Jordan and the UAE.
Arab Advisors Group projects the Smartphone applications combined annual revenues in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan to grow from US$ 44 million in 2011 to US$ 210 million in 2015.
The survey revealed that iOS (iPhone) topped the list with 40% share of smartphones operating systems (calculated based on handsets’ brands). Blackberry ranked second at 38%, according to the survey.
“The survey revealed that 57% and 52% of iPhone and Blackberry users, respectively, use applications through their smartphones, while 44% of Symbian smartphone users use applications. 47% of those who use applications in Saudi Arabia prefer applications in the Arabic language compared to 8.2% in each of Jordan and the UAE.” Jawad J. Abbassi, founder and GM of Arab Advisors Group, said.
Over 300 delegates will discuss and deliberate the ongoing trends in the regional smartphone ecosystem at Arab Advisors’ Smart Handheld Summit which will be held on December 5 and 6, 2011 in Dubai.
“The Smart Handheld Summit comes in the context of booming Smartphone markets in the region and enhanced interest in the applications and content space. Based on the surveys’ findings, the Arab Advisors Group projects the Smartphone applications combined annual revenues in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan to grow from US$ 44 million in 2011 to US$ 210 million in 2015; with Saudi Arabia’s market generating around three quarters of the combined total.” J. Abbassi, concluded.
The summit is supported by Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Qualcomm, AppsArabia, Microsoft, nPario, Teletimes International, Comm., ITP CommsMEA, MediaME, TelecomWatch, FTTH Council, UBA, The Market Buzz, MediaStow, DMTV and Tech Tech.
