Dubai: The battle between Apple and Samsung has moved to Shaikh Saeed Hall at the World Trade Centre as most consumers inquire about the two at the Gitex Computer Shopper, which kicked off in Dubai on Saturday.
Blackberry, meanwhile, seems to be taking a back seat. However, consumers are clearly spoilt for choices. Almost every multi-brand retailer is focusing on the killer products — the iPad, the iPhone, Samsung Gallaxy SII or SIII and Galaxy Note.
“I am in two minds on whether I should buy the Samsung Galaxy or an iPhone,” says Mohiuddin Zaman, Vice-President for Corporate Credit at ADCB. However, his 10-year-old son wants a Blackberry. “I want a Blackberry, whatever model — I don’t care!”
Zaman says he might go for a Samsung as his wife uses the iPhone 4. “My only dilemma is that whether I should go for the Galaxy Note or the Galaxy SIII. I might settle for an offer where one of the retailers is offering the Galaxy SIII with a Chinese-made PDA,” he said.
That way, both father and son will have something for them ‑ all bundled in for Dh2,399.
Gitex Shopper, the retail event of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (Gitex), returned to its initial venue, the World Trade Centre, after a gap of 11 years from the Dubai Airport Expo which has been demolished recently.
Jacky’s has hired additional hands to support its massive sale campaign at the sprawling premises. It has engaged 700 people to serve 23 exhibition stands covering a total area of 1,490 square metres — its biggest ever participation at Gitex to date.
“As product lifestyle shortens, we see the introduction of new technologically advanced products released at faster pace. These are driving the sales. That’s why, at this Shopper, we expect to see higher sale, primarily being driven by the latest products from Apple and Samsung,” said Ashish Panjabi, Chief Executive Officer of Jacky’s Electronics LLC.
However, Shopper is not just limited to smart phones or tablets. It has something for almost everyone, such as products ranging from Dh10 for mobile handset covers and accessories to Dh12,000-priced smart television sets — all under one roof.
According to Panjabi, a consumer will have almost everything that he wants at this gadget fair — “from an auto-focus camera to the professional ones, the accessories and peripherals or the upgrades and the add-ons”.
He added that the demand for gadgets is also been driven by the change in lifestyle. “Earlier, people used to carry one phone. Then they moved to two, including a smartphone. And now most of them carry two smartphones, including a PDA. Many also carry a tablet or a laptop,” he explained.
