Rumor: Chinese Knock-off Handset Vendors Turn to Africa

Sina Tech, 3/06/12

Chinese knock-off ("shanzhai") handset manufacturers have all shifted focus from India to the Africa market, according to a Shenzhen handset vendor executive surnamed Zhang. Monthly shipments to India began dropping sharply in H2 2011, falling from over 1 mln units to 100,000.

According to market research firm CyberMedia Research, Shenzhen-based G'Five Information Technology shipped nearly 35 mln units to India in 2010, capturing a 21% market share. Nokia was a distant second with a 13% market share. In CyberMedia's 2011 report, Nokia ranked first and continued to have a 13% share, while G'Five dropped out of the top three with less than 8%.

According to Zhang, India's rapidly emerging local brands are the main competitors for China's shanzhai handset vendors, but the majority of local brands are in fact subcontractors for Shenzhen firms.

Keywords: handset vendor handset shanzhai wireless Africa India G'Five

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