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India sticks to cheap feature phones as brands struggle to attract new smartphone buyers
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India, the world’s second largest smartphone market after China, with approx. 750 million usersis struggling to attract new smartphone buyers because the typical citizen of the country cannot afford to buy a new smartphone.
Instead of switching to a new smartphone, hundreds of thousands of Indian consumers prefer to keep on with their current feature phones or simply upgrade to a new feature phone. The latter has led to a surge in feature phone shipments within the country, though these phones are quite old-fashioned and have only a number of features compared to smartphones, which helps solve many of the mobile computing requirements for the standard buyer.
According to data shared by market intelligence firm Counterpoint, shipments of entry-level feature phones in India registered a ten per cent year-on-year growth last yr, compared to -31 per cent in 2022. This growth is due to the reluctance of existing feature phone buyers to buy a new smartphone.
Compared to the general entry-level phone market, entry-level 4G phone sales in India rose to 25% in 2023 from 9% in 2022. However, entry-level 2G phones proceed to dominate the Indian market with a 75% share, according to data from Counterpoint.
Indian telecom giant Reliance Jio leads the 4G feature phone market with a 27% share, followed by Transsion Holdings-owned Itel and Indian phone maker Lava with 24% and 18%, respectively, according to Counterpoint. The telco offers a spread of models on this segment with dedicated tariff plans and access to digital services, including the country’s real-time payments system Unified Payments Interface and apps like JioCinema, JioTV and WhatsApp, to appeal to the masses.
However, Tarun Pathak, director of device and ecosystem research at Counterpoint, told TechCrunch that Jio’s 4G-enabled handsets have somewhat hindered smartphone adoption within the country “as consumers are now able to download basic apps on their own on their 4G-enabled handsets.”
Jio is considering launching a 5G-enabled phone to capitalize on this trend.
Jio, India’s largest telecom player by subscribers and revenue, is quietly planning to launch a 5G-enabled phone as brands face the challenge of attracting new smartphone buyers to the South Asian market, TechCrunch has exclusively learned.
The telecom operator, owned by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, has been selling feature phones for years and progressively moved into Google-powered smartphones in 2021. However, its first smartphone was too expensive for its average specs and didn’t help it achieve success. Jio now sees feature phones as essentially the most potent weapon it has to bring phones to as many individuals in India as possible.
Jio’s 5G phone will run on Linux-based KaiOS software, which already powers the telecom company’s existing range of feature phones. Contract manufacturers Dixon Technologies and Neolync are currently constructing prototypes of the phone, the sources said.
The phone might be announced at Reliance’s upcoming AGM, which is predicted in August, although sources say it’s unlikely to be ready for the mass market anytime soon. The phone’s price can also be one in all the problems that Jio is yet to determine.
Sources conversant in the matter told TechCrunch that the Mumbai-based telecom company is in preliminary talks with Qualcomm for an early version of its 5G-capable phone. However, the ultimate device could involve other chipmakers as discussions on its development are still ongoing.
Qualcomm denied its involvement in talks with Jio when contacted by TechCrunch this week. A Reliance Industries spokesman declined to comment.
In addition to the new 5G phone, Jio plans to launch a 5G Android tablet and a 5G smartphone this yr, two people conversant in the carrier’s plans told TechCrunch.
Dixon Technologies and Neolync didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Till now, Jio has been offering a line of 4G devices that included JioPhone Next as its first Android smartphone. However, the telco is looking to expand its portfolio with 5G devices as it looks to increase revenue from telecom services and is working on monetizing 5G connectivity. Jio, together with competitors Airtel and Vi, recently raised tariffs within the country to boost subscription revenue. The operator can also be expected to spin off from Reliance and list as a public company on Indian stock exchanges at a valuation of $112 billion as early as next yr.
Jio Mobile Phones History So Far
In August 2017, Jio unveiled its first 4G-enabled phone, JioPhonebased on KaiOS. Soon after the launch of JioPhone became the best-selling cell phone within the countryThe candybar phone later also received support for popular apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube, allowing for its wider use.
In 2018, Jio launched a phone with a new generation QWERTY keyboard. However, JioPhone 2 failed to replicate the success of JioPhone due to its limited availability and appeal.
Last yr, the telecom company launched Jio Bharat as a $12 series of feature phones to revive its presence within the feature phone market. It also updated the unique JioPhone with a facelift called JioPhone PrimeThe launch of new models helped grow the 4G phone market in India.
Why are hundreds of thousands of Indians not buying new smartphones?
Smartphone Market in India a year-on-year increase of over 11% was recorded in the primary quarter, the third consecutive quarter of shipment growth, with 34 million smartphones shipped throughout the quarter, according to IDC. However, unlike the budget price segments (between under $100 and $200), the super-premium segment (above $800) saw the best growth of 44%, seeing its share increase to 7%. It was dominated by the most recent and last-generation iPhone models, followed by the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S23 families.
However, the entry-level segment (sub-$100) share of the Indian smartphone market fell 14% year-on-year to 15%, from 20% a yr ago, according to IDC. In 2020, it accounted for 26% of the overall smartphone market and 20% in 2021.
Market experts consider that the major reason for the sharp decline in sales of entry-level smartphones is the reluctance of users of phones with basic features to switch to cheaper smartphones.
Navkendar Singh, associate vice chairman of device research at IDC, told TechCrunch that about 350 million people in India still use feature phones, and 50% of them have a model that costs lower than $18. “Since they can’t buy a smartphone, they are replacing their feature phones,” he said.
Singh also noted that smartphone penetration in India is lower than 50% and has remained unchanged for the past few years, though the market has seen some growth in smartphone shipments post-COVID.
“The switch from feature phones to smartphones is not easy for some consumers,” said Counterpoint’s Pathak, adding that within the country, older people, low-income earners and people doing manual labour will not be choosing smartphones.
“The price gap between smartphones and feature phones is still large enough to limit users’ ability to easily switch to smartphones,” he said.
According to IDC, the typical selling price (ASP) of a smartphone in India is $255. It has increased by over 54% from $165 in 2020. The average selling price of a smartphone in India is barely about 31% compared to $826 within the U.S.
Yet, hundreds of thousands of individuals in India find it difficult to buy a smartphone due to low disposable income.
“Although India has one of the cheapest smartphones in the world, as a percentage of user income, it is less affordable than in the US and the UK,” said the report, titled State of India’s Digital Economy by the Indian Council of Research on International Economic Relations and Prosus.
Smartphone brands are offering financing options to attract customers. However, Singh told TechCrunch that the move has to this point only helped existing smartphone consumers upgrade their models.
Entertainment
Joe Freshgoods X New Balance 992 “Starn Well” is celebrating cooperation
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Joe Freshgoods selects five years and counts with New Balance because of his latest version 992 “Arged Well”, a tribute to his creative partnership with a characteristic brand of sportswear, which still supports his design talents and a contagious passion.
After Debut On the Joe Freshgoods New Balance 992 website, Chicago Creative is preparing for a wider version of February 28 via newbalance.com and chosen retail sellers. The new edition of the sneakers means the fifth anniversary of Joe of New Balance, milestone after almost stood before closing his now widely beloved and known brand.
The document coming in June 2025 is shared within the history of Joe’s success, from his start as an area Streetwearus brand in his hometown of Chicago to providing New Balance partnership in 2020, when he wasn’t sure find out how to keep his business.
“He examines how the partnership influenced the global culture of sneakers and development transparency”, Joe common In the announcement on Instagram, “which was more important to me than just doing it about tennis games. This is a real life. ”
The trailer of the documentation offers access to Joe’s journey, presenting his modest approach to success and its influence on the Boston brand of sportswear founded in 1906. Since joining New Balance, Joe Robinson (higher referred to as Joe Freshgoods), a champion with a young history.
Five years later, with 20 Sneakers Publishing House and counting the most recent cooperation of New Balance Joe Freshgoods is a love letter for his creative journey with the Boston brand.
“Sometimes I feel that I shouldn’t be here. But I am here and say, “Oh, I’m good at what I do,” he says within the film.
Project 992 “Agnish well” attracts the inspiration from the primary cooperation of Joe Freshgoods from New Balance – the edition of New Balance 992 “No Emotions”, also referred to as “heart anatomy”. It was a right away hit and celebrated in the course of the NBA All-Star weekend, and now charges resale prices around $ 3,000.
While the explanations for the New Balance revival may vary, many consider the primary release of Joe 992 to be a catalyst that enlivened the brand. Sneakers have pink and red suede silhouettes placed on an olive mesh base and accented saddle skin on the tongue and rear card.
Four sets of lace are attached, and the box is decorated with unique details reflecting the theme “aging well”. In addition, Joe Freshgoods designed the “Championship Dreams” leather university jacket to commemorate his five -year success as a designer.
“I wanted this jacket to capture the essence of the last five years – each project was a milestone, another closed chapter, another dream,” Joe signature Post on Instagram. “Over time, I had the honor to tell culturally important stories, and this jacket reflects this travel project according to the design.”
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USAID cuts are already hitting countries around the world. Here are 20 projects that have been closed
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Countries around the world already feel the influence of Trump’s administration decision to eliminate over 90% of foreign assistance contracts and reduce the financing of around $ 60 billion. A number of hours after the announcement at the starting of this week, The programs have been closed, Leaving tens of millions of individuals without access to life -saving care.
About 10,000 contracts with the American International Development Agency were accomplished on Wednesday, in letters sent to non -governmental organizations around the world.
Letters said that the programs were rejected “for the convenience and interests of the US government”, based on an individual with knowledge of the content that they spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to talk publicly on this subject.
Many programs are present in the fragile countries that are highly depending on American help with a purpose to support healthcare systems, nutrition programs and stop hunger.
Here, several key projects around the world, which AP confirmed, have been closed:
1: In Congo, the motion of a bunch of help against hunger will stop to treat tens of hundreds of malnourished children from May, which, based on a charity, will make children put children in “deadly danger”.
2: According to the Committee on Cadastral Risk Management in Ethiopia in Ethiopia, help stopped for over 1 million people. The Ministry of Health was also forced to terminate the contract of 5,000 employees throughout the country, focused on stopping HIV and malaria, vaccination and assist in a difficult situation in coping with the trauma of war.
3: In Senegal, the largest malaria project was closed. According to a USAID worker, who was not authorized to talk over with the media. Mother and youngsters’s health and nutrition services were also closed. They provided look after tens of hundreds of pregnant women and treatment that would prevent acute malnutrition.
4: In South Sudan, the International Emergency Committee closed a project that provides access to prime quality health and nutrition services over 115,000 people.
5: The program closed by the Norwegian refugee council in Colombia left 50,000 people without saving their lives, including in the northeast, where the growing violence caused a humanitarian crisis once a generation. This included food, shelter, clean water and other basic items for people displaced in the region.
6: According to the International Rescue Committee, 90 community cuisines closed in the capital in the torn war of Sudan, leaving greater than half 1,000,000 people without consistent access to food.
7: According to Bangladesh, 600,000 women and youngsters will lose access to mother’s critical health care, protection against violence, reproductive health services and other life -saving care, in accordance with the United Nations Fund.
8. In small critical assistance, equivalent to access to water, food and health services for over 270,000 people, based on a help group, which didn’t wish to be listed for fear of repression.
9. Over 400,000 people in North Burkina Faso lost access to services equivalent to water. According to the help group, which didn’t want to get replaced for fear of a repressiveist.
10. In Somalia, 50 health centers serving over 19,000 people were closed per thirty days because health care employees are not paid, based on the American help group.
11. In Ukraine, based on money, humanitarian programs, which last yr reached 1 million people, were suspended, based on the spokesman for the Secretary General of the UN.
12. Hundreds of mobile health teams and other services were suspended in Afghanistan, they concerned 9 million people, based on the UN spokesperson.
13. According to the UN Secretary General in Syria in Syria, for about 2.5 million people in the northeast of the country ceased to supply services. Also in the north, a dozen or so health clinics, including the primary hospital recommending this area, closed, said doctors without borderlines.
14. In Kenya, over 600,000 people living in drought -harassed areas and chronic sharp malnutrition will lose their access to the rescue lifetime of food and nutrition, based on Mercy Corps.
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15. At Haiti, 13,000 people lost access to dietary support, in accordance with actions against hunger.
16. In Thailand, hospitals help around 100,000 Refugees from Myanmar According to the Border Consortium of the Help Group, closed.
17. According to the International Emergency Committee in Nigeria, 25,000 extremely malnourished children will stop to receive food assistance until April.
18. A program to enhance access to warning systems for disabled people for disabled people was detained in the Philippines.
19. In Vietnam, a program helping disabled people through training carers and providing medical care at home stopped, in accordance with humanity and integration.
20. In Yemen, 220,000 resettled people will lose access to mother’s critical health care, protection against violence, treatment of rape and other life -saving care, in accordance with the United Nations Fund.
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The Associated Press Writers Sylvie Corbet got here in Paris, France, Robert Badendieck in Istanbul, Turkey, Evelyn Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya, Thalia Beata in New York and Edith Lederer in the United births contributed to this report.
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Usher has some tips for Kendrick Lamar before Super Bowl: “Save the moment”
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If there may be someone who Kendrick Lamar should check in before his performance Super Bowl, Usher can only be a man.
During the appearance ofJennifer Hudson Show“On Tuesday, February 4, a 46-year-old singer who treated viewers at an epic show in Las Vegas last 12 months, shared the advice that K-Dot gave before his great performance.
“One thing I would say is pleasure at the moment because you are obsessed with building the best performance, but you do not realize that it is really about it,” he said after he has edited his own program about 100 times.
“It may not be perfect, everything may not go exactly as it should, but if you are in your mind and as he got stuck, trying to do something perfect, you will not raise and smell flowers,” he continued. “And realize:” Wait a moment, I’m here and I actually have the opportunity to have this moment and I don’t intend to get it again, I is not going to get this moment. ”
Many can keep in mind that Usher celebrated his performance during the Super Bowl break, binding the knot in the chapel of the journey together with his longtime girlfriend the same night before he hit the star party.
Usher explained that although he didn’t have the opportunity to personally meet up with Lamar, he really talked to his creative team behind the upcoming program.
“I did not have the opportunity to meet up with him and tell him how I used to be excited. I talked to everyone nearby … I talked to all producers, his creative team – he said.
Speaking of Lamar, Usher added high praise for the rapper “Not Like Us”.
“You can say a lot,” the singer said “good”. “There is a lot to say where hip hop comes from, there is a lot to say for this young man and how he was an amazing reference point for what he is an artist.”
Usher also added how he appreciates the way Lamar “defends our culture”.
The interview appears only a number of days after Lamar’s viral hit “Not Like Us” kidnapped Grammy, winning in all five categories through which he was nominated. He also arrives a number of days before Lamar to perform his highly expected break show during the Super Bowl Lix at Caesars Superdome in Nowy Orleans, where the defending champion City Chiefs will play against Philadelphia Eagles, in the rematch of the Super Bowl lvia, where the leaders won.
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