[JPMorgan_]

BlackBerry Mania Shows No Signs of Slowing in Indonesia



Old promotional deals may be ending, but BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is still enjoying its honeymoon in Indonesia, with sales expected to rise as operators compete with better prices, bigger networks and new bargains.

Telkomsel, the country�s biggest mobile phone operator, had 3.5 million BlackBerry users last year and aims for 5 million this year, according to Ricardo Indra, the operator�s head of corporate communications.

Last year, the operator offered three months of unlimited BlackBerry services for Rp 100,000 ($11), far cheaper than the normal rate of Rp 99,000 for 30 days.

And while that deal has ended, its new deal, BlackBerry Sosialita, allows access to messenger services, social networking applications and browsing for Rp 70,000 a month. Telkomsel also aims to expand its 3G infrastructure network to 100 cities, up from 46 cities currently.

The country�s second-biggest operator, Indosat, which has 1.5 million BlackBerry users, also offered three months of unlimited BlackBerry services last year for Rp 100,000, and this year it will offer the same deal for Rp 90,000.

�We hope with this affordable rate, more people will enjoy Indosat�s BlackBerry services,� said Andrini Novie Hastuti, head of marketing at the operator.

Not all operators are keeping their deals, however. In February, XL Axiata, the third-biggest operator, ended its deal offering three months of unlimited services for Rp 49,000. Users must now pay the normal rate of Rp 99,000 for 30 days.

A RIM spokesperson told Agence France-Presse on Jan. 1 that Indonesia had about 5 million BlackBerry users, and the company predicted it would have 9.7 million users by 2015. Analysts expect the new BlackBerry Curve 9220, which is less expensive than other models, to help boost sales.

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BlackBerry Mania Shows No Signs of Slowing in Indonesia | The Jakarta Globe

[OzarkaTexile]

Nickelback can still fill a stadium anywhere in southeast Asia. Those guys can't even walk down the street in Laos without getting mobbed.

[sam_b77]

Nickelback can still fill a stadium anywhere in southeast Asia. Those guys can't even walk down the street in Laos without getting mobbed.

Really profound. Where do you buy yours pearls of wisdom

[brucep1]

Nickelback can still fill a stadium anywhere in southeast Asia. Those guys can't even walk down the street in Laos without getting mobbed.

While a very unnecessary jab, hilarious.

[playbookster]

How did Nickelback come in to this? Also, those guys fill stadiums anywhere on the planet.

[kevinnugent]

The population of Indonesia is 240 million and climbing. It is the fourth most populous country in the world after India, China and the US. Indonesians spend an average of 5.8 years in school - so most are uneducated and dismally poor. They will not be the emerging market for BB10 devices. They will however be a very low profit margin market for refurbished and low cost/end phones - like most of RIM's emerging markets.

[sportline]

5-7 million users, not too bad. all cash no contract/carrier subsidies. probably will go up to 10m users in 2015 or so.
low cost or low end does not really matter as long as
- you can sell
- expand user base (and upgrades to better handhelds)
- build better infrastructure for future growth

us and europe is saturated and stalling - it will certainly not being growth area.

[leftypepper716]

RIM will ALWAYS make money, either by thier Goverment contracts or dolling out crappy Curve 8530's to Indonesian's. BUT? here's a better question, Wouldn't you want to make MORE profit in the two major Countries that actually have millions of expendable dollars, such has China and the USA? I know RIM is trying thier best to win over a Quasi-Capital China, The USA NEEDS extra attention, being that US just has SO many choices in any kind of product. IMO a MAJOR re-tooling of marketing BlackBerry in the US is needed SOON!