By Ibrahim Olukotun
Lagos. January 27, 2013: Apple’s iconic phone, the iPhone 5 is facing a huge challenge in the market due to its Nano SIM design, according to phone dealers in the Ikeja Computer Village, the nation’s largest market for computers and allied tech products and services.
A Nano SIM which is 60 per cent smaller than regular SIM used by phone networks in the telecoms is the latest card technology. Most of the smartphones before Apple launched its latest iPhone 5 used Micro SIM, a smaller SIM relative to standard SIM.
Most consumers are not readily disposed to having their SIMs cut to the Nano size because they cannot use the SIMs on any other device aside the iPhone 5; thereby opting for other competing brands like Samsung, some of the dealers told Technology Times.
Both brands are keen competitors in the device market with trend showing that the reluctance of mobile phone users to have their SIM trimmed down to Nano size may have also cut down sales of Apple’s iPhone 5.
Mobile phone companies have also offered promotions to encourage uptake of the Apple devices by encouraging their subscribers to have Nano SIMs at either reduced or no extra cost. But some dealers wager that this has not fundamentally changed the market consumer pattern.
Alvin Ofoukwu, Sales Manager, Slot Systems Limited argues that though some GSM operators are offering Nano SIMs but most consumers are wary of the stress involved in obtaining such SIMs while others raised fears over inability to use the SIMs on other phones.
“The Nano SIM design of iPhone 5 is really a huge challenge here in Nigeria because most customers don’t like the idea of having their SIM cut to Nano size. They raised the fear that once their SIMs are cut to Nano size they cannot use it on other phones again, thereby opting for other brands especially Samsung Galaxy 3”, Ofoukwu says.
Reacting to the development, Iyke Nwosu, Managing Director, Blinq Technologies Ltd says that in spite of Apple’s penchant for innovations and creativity, the US technology company should consider how emerging economies like Nigeria respond to such changes.
“It (Nano SIM design) really affects iPhone 5 sales. Most people find it difficult accepting to have their SIM cut to Nano size. More so no other phone apart from iPhone 5 uses it”, Nwosu adds.
iPhone 5, the latest smartphone from Apple, was launched in September 2012.
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Folks, let’s call a ‘spade’ a spade. The Nano Sim has nothing to do with the sale of Iphone 5. The fact remains that there has been a serious competition among mobile manufacturing industries, and consumers are likely to weigh which phone best suits them. Some may compare the price as well as the technical features of Iphone 5 to other phones on the market. In a nutshell, the Nano Sim has nothing to do with the sale of the Iphone 5.
The Moto X also uses the Nano SIM as well. I hope the marketers bear that in mind.