DTAC launches house-brand 4G smartphone for Bt5,990
TOTAL Access Communication yesterday launched the first DTAC house-brand 4G smartphone, Eagle X, aiming for 2.5 million users of its fourth-generation mobile service by the end of the year, up from 1.2 million currently.
The launch of Eagle X, priced at an affordable Bt5,990, is aimed at getting DTAC’s customers to experience its 2.1-gigahertz 4G service, which is now available in 40 provinces.
“We aim to sell 50,000 Eagle X units in the first three months after the launch,” said Prisana Ratanasuwanasri, senior vice president for DTAC’s post-paid division.
Currently, there are 2.2 million 4G-capable smartphones in DTAC’s network, but only 1.2 million subscribers actually use the 4G service, she said.
“One of the key strategies is to get an affordable 4G smartphone in the market,” she said.
DTAC plans to bring two more 4G smartphone models on to market throughout this year. Overall, it aims to sell more than a million house-brand smartphones this year.
Prisana said DTAC house-brand smartphones had been on the market for two years, and almost 2 million have been sold.
“Last year, DTAC sold 750,000 house-brand smartphones, excluding the very low-end model aimed at shifting 2G users to 3G. In the first quarter of 2015, DTAC sold 200,000 of its smartphones, in addition to 1 million of the very low-end models,” she said.
She noted that according to research company GfK, in the first quarter of this year, 4G models accounted for around 16.6 per cent of the 4.3 million smartphones in Thailand. Meanwhile, 3G devices, mostly smartphones, accounted for 76.5 per cent.
Devices with 4G compatibility – again mostly smartphones – increased from 3.3 per cent of total mobile units in 2013 to 8.1 per cent in 2014.
“DTAC house brand units are for customers who need an affordable smartphone. We have successfully used house-brand smartphones to lead customers from 2G to 3G service, and now we will also lead customers to move from 3G to 4G with DTAC house brand smartphones,” Prisana said.
