Smartphone users in Saudi Arabia have a higher preference for Arabic language applications than their counterparts UAE and Jordan.

A new Arab Advisors Group’s survey of cellular users in Saudi Arabia reveals insightful details on the smartphones adoption and usage patterns in the Kingdom. The survey revealed that 47{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} of the respondents who use applications in Saudi Arabia prefer to use them in the Arabic language compared to 8.2{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} in each of Jordan and the UAE. Arab Advisors Group projects the Smartphone applications combined annual revenues in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan to grow from US$ 44 million in 2011 to US$ 210 million in 2015.
The Arab Advisors Group concluded a ground breaking survey of cellular users in Saudi Arabia probing smartphones adoption and usage. The survey revealed that iOS (iPhone) topped the list with 40{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} share of smartphones operating systems (calculated based on handsets’ brands). Blackberry ranked second at 38{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10}. Almost half of smartphone users prefer the Arabic language for their applications.
Over 300 delegates will discuss and deliberate the ongoing trends in the regional smartphone ecosystem at Arab Advisors’ Smart Handheld Summit which will be held on December 5 & 6, 2011 in Dubai. Saudi Telecom Company (STC) is the Strategic Summit Partner. Qualcomm is sponsoring the summit which is also supported by AppsArabia, Microsoft, nPario, Teletimes International, Comm., ITP CommsMEA, MediaME, TelecomWatch, FTTH Council, UBA, The Market Buzz, MediaStow, DMTV and Tech Tech.
A new major cellular phone survey of cellular users in Saudi Arabia was concluded by the Arab Advisors Group in October 2011. The survey report, “Saudi Smartphone Survey 2011” was released on November 3, 2011 and provides the results of a major comprehensive survey of cellular users in the Kingdom. The survey covered general cellular usage habits; smartphone adoption and usage habits; smartphone awareness, cellular handsets’ brands and models in addition to tablets availability among respondents. The report has 56 pages and 65 exhibits.
“The Smart Handheld Summit comes in the context of booming Smartphone markets in the region and enhanced interest in the applications and content space. Based on the surveys’ findings, the Arab Advisors Group projects the Smartphone applications combined annual revenues in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan to grow from US$ 44 million in 2011 to US$ 210 million in 2015; with Saudi Arabia’s market generating around three quarters of the combined total.” Jawad J. Abbassi, Founder and General Manager of Arab Advisors Group, said.
Respondents were randomly called through a randomly generated table of cellular phone numbers for each of the four cellular operators in Saudi Arabia: STC, Mobily, Zain, and Bravo. The survey results encompass answers from 770 cellular users that passed rigorous quality control checks. Quality control was conducted by Arab Advisors Group’s team. The survey yields a confidence level of 99{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} with a margin of error of less than 5{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10}.
“The survey revealed that 57{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} and 52{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} of iPhone and Blackberry users, respectively, use applications through their smartphones, while 44{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} of Symbian smartphone users use applications. 47{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} of those who use applications in Saudi Arabia prefer applications in the Arabic language compared to 8.2{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} in each of Jordan and the UAE.” Mr. Jawad Abbassi, added.
This survey report can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for only US$ 1,750 for subscribers to Arab Advisors Groups Strategic Research Services. Non-Subscribers to Arab Advisors Groups Strategic Research Services can order the report for US$ 2,250.
Any investment in the report will count towards attending Arab Advisors’ upcoming event “The Smart Handheld Summit” on December 5 & 6, 2011 in Dubai – UAE. More information on the conference can be viewed on:
http://www.arabadvisors.com/SmartHandheld/schedule.htm
Please contact the Arab Advisors Group to get a copy of the report’s Table of Contents.
The Arab Advisors Group divided the survey questionnaire into seven main sections:
General information on respondents
General cellular usage habits
Handset brands
Smartphones adoption and usage patterns
Smartphones awareness
Tablets availability
Detailed analysis of handsets’ models
Arab Advisors Group conducted two other similar surveys in Jordan and the UAE. Order the three surveys of Jordan, UAE and Saudi Arabia and receive a 20{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} discount with a package price for the three reports at US$ 4,200 (US$ 1,400 per report) for subscribers and US$ 5,400 (US$ 1,800 per report) for non-subscribers.
The Arab Advisors Group’s team of analysts in the region has produced close to 2,700 reports on the Arab World’s communications and media markets. The reports can be purchased individually or received through an annual subscription to Arab Advisors Group’s (www.arabadvisors.com) Strategic Research Services (Media and Telecom).