Upcountry expansion, new BlackBerry set to push RIM sales
Research In Motion (RIM) will look beyond Bangkok as well as bring out its latest BlackBerry smart phone, the Curve 9380, to keep sales simmering this year.
“We started doing marketing only in Bangkok, but from now on we’ll move to new market areas outside Bangkok, where the huge potential is,” Nick Yoong, senior manager for RIM Thailand, said yesterday.
Nicholas Horton, vice president of RIM Indochina, said the company this year would continue its growth in Thailand with the plan to make its largest investment here, but did not disclose how much.
The budget will be used to set up its local office in Bangkok, push its footprint upcountry and conduct marketing activities throughout the year.
“Last year was our success year in the Thai market and we are confident to move forward to maintain our momentum here. Thailand is our important market and we will also continue to play an important role in this market,” he said.
The BlackBerry 10 platform along with BlackBerry Messenger and socially connected applications will help BlackBerry smart phones play a key role in the market throughout the year.
The company will launch the BlackBerry Curve 9380 as its first product this year at the Thailand Mobile Expo (TME) from January 26-29 as well as refresh the price of its full touch-screen smart phone.
Yoong said RIM would work closely with its local partners to deliver BlackBerry smart phones and the PlayBook to customers throughout the country.
“We will open our office in Bangkok in a couple months and hire more local staff, both employed by RIM and by our partners, and go upcountry. This is our plan for this year.
“We will continue to launch a wide range of products to meet the different groups of potential customers. For example, the latest one – BlackBerry Curve 9380 – is targeted at first-jobbers and young generations. Its full touch-screen comes with the concept of social, stylish and simple. It will be available on January 26 at TME and in our authorised partners’ outlets on February 2,” he said.
RIM will also offer special promotions for BlackBerry smart phones at TME such as a Bt2,000 discount for the Touch 9860.
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