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Slowing Innovation is the Key Reason for Declining Smartphone Sales

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Global sales of smartphones to end users declined 2.7% in the first quarter of 2019, totaling 373 million units, according to Gartner, Inc. Despite its absence from the U.S., Huawei maintained its ranking as the No. 2 smartphone vendor worldwide and continued to reduce the gap with Samsung.

“Demand for premium smartphones remained lower than for basic smartphones,* which affected brands such as Samsung and Apple that have significant stakes in high-end smartphones,” said Anshul Gupta, senior research director at Gartner. “In addition, demand for utility smartphones* declined as the rate of upgrading from feature phones to smartphones has slowed, given that 4G feature phones give users great advantages at a lower cost.”

Slowing innovation in flagship smartphones and rising prices continued to extend replacement cycles. The two countries that sell the most smartphones, namely the U.S. and China, saw sales decline by 15.8% and 3.2%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2019.

In the first quarter of 2019, Samsung retained the top spot in worldwide smartphone sales achieving 19.2% market share (see Table 1). Huawei achieved the highest year-over-year growth among the world’s top five, growing 44.5% and smartphone sales totaling 58.4 million units.

Sales of Huawei smartphones grew in all regions. “Huawei did particularly well in two of its biggest regions, Europe and Greater China, where its smartphone sales grew by 69% and 33%, respectively,” said Mr. Gupta. Huawei’s continued dominance in Greater China, where it commanded a 29.5% market share, helped it secure the No. 2 global smartphone vendor ranking in the first quarter of 2019.

Table 1: Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 1Q19 (Thousands of Units)

Vendor1Q19
(Units)
1Q19
Market Share (%)
1Q18
(Units)
1Q18
Market Share (%)
Samsung71,621.119.278,564.820.5
Huawei58,436.215.740,426.710.5
Apple44,568.611.954,058.914.1
OPPO29,602.17.928,173.17.3
Vivo27,368.27.323,243.26.1
Others141,405.237.9159,037.141.5
Total373,001.4100.0383,503.9100.0

Due to rounding, numbers may not add up precisely to the totals shown. Source: Gartner (May 2019)

“Unavailability of Google apps and services on Huawei smartphones, if implemented, will upset Huawei’s international smartphone business which is almost half of its worldwide phone business. Not the least it brings apprehension among buyers, limiting Huawei’s growth in the near term,” said Mr. Gupta.

Despite a decline in its smartphone sales of 8.8% in the first quarter of 2019, Samsung remained the No. 1 smartphone vendor worldwide. “Samsung launched its flagship Galaxy S10 smartphone portfolio, which received a good response. However, its impact was limited as Samsung only started shipping the S10 at the end of the first quarter,” said Gupta. “Samsung also strengthened its midtier and entry-tier smartphone ranges with a refreshed A series and J series and the newly introduced M series, but aggressive competition from Chinese manufacturers limited their impact.”

Sales of Apple iPhones totaled 44.6 million units in the first quarter of 2019, a decline of 17.6% year over year. “The price cut for iPhones across markets helped drive up demand but wasn’t enough to restore growth in the first quarter,” said Mr. Gupta. “Apple is facing longer replacement cycles as users struggle to see enough value benefits to justify replacing existing iPhones.”

Vivo beat Xiaomi to claim the No. 5 spot in the first quarter of 2019. Vivo sold 27.4 million smartphones during the quarter. Xiaomi sold 27.2 million. The latest features, such as in-display fingerprint scanner, slider camera, fast charging, and almost bezel-less display, helped Vivo achieve double-digit smartphone sales growth in the first quarter of 2019. “However, the company could do much better by expanding the range of its entry-tier smartphones and selling them in emerging Asia/Pacific markets,” said Gupta.

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Huawei and Dubai Health Innovation and Digital Health Team Partner on Blood Pressure Study

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Huawei has announced a collaboration with the Dubai Health Innovation and Digital Health team to conduct a validation study on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring technology. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring capabilities using Huawei’s wrist-based wearables.

Born from a decade of research and development in blood pressure technology, Huawei’s latest advancements represent significant progress in wrist-based monitoring. The collaboration aims to assess the effectiveness of this technology in providing accurate and convenient blood pressure measurements.

Hypertension affects about one-third of adults globally, making it a critical public health concern. Early identification and effective management of high blood pressure have the potential to significantly improve long-term health outcomes. The medical community emphasises the necessity of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring due to the fluctuating nature of blood pressure, influenced by factors such as emotions, diet, and activity levels. Nighttime blood pressure changes, often overlooked, can be critical indicators of cardiovascular health.

According to the ISH 2020 Global Hypertension Practice Guidelines, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring using a traditional arm cuff device is the best method for assessing blood pressure levels. However, these devices can be cumbersome and interfere with daily activities. Huawei’s advanced wearable technology addresses these challenges by providing continuous, non-invasive monitoring in a compact and comfortable form factor. This will make it easier for people to integrate blood pressure monitoring into daily routines without significant interference.

This study highlights a growing trend of integrating advanced technology into healthcare. By offering a more accessible form of ambulatory monitoring, Huawei’s advancements have the potential to improve early detection and management of high blood pressure. The findings from this study could pave the way for wider adoption of wearable health technologies, offering a proactive approach to managing chronic conditions. This study will also provide valuable insights into how such technology can be effectively implemented in healthcare settings.

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Gadgets

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Expands With S24 FE in the UAE

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Samsung Gulf Electronics today announced the availability of the Galaxy S24 FE in the UAE, the latest addition to the Galaxy AI ecosystem that delivers premium mobile experiences to more users. Powered by the AI-based ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist features, Galaxy S24 FE showcases an enhanced camera setup that empowers users to be more creative. It’s the perfect device for gaming on the go with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a long-lasting 4,700mAh battery, and a powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset. The Galaxy S24 FE offers premium Galaxy AI tools and ecosystem connectivity to enhance communication, productivity and creativity — all housed in an iconic design and protected by robust Samsung Knox security.

Fadi Abu Shamat, Senior Director and Head of Mobile eXperience Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said, “Our vision is to bring cutting-edge AI technology to all our users in the UAE. The introduction of Galaxy AI is revolutionizing how people in the region connect, express themselves, and boost their productivity. With the Galaxy S24 FE, we’re extending the advanced features and Galaxy AI capabilities of our flagship S24 Series to a wider audience across the UAE, ensuring more users can experience the future of mobile innovation.”

Galaxy S24 FE makes it easy for anyone to shoot stunning photos and videos. Its premium camera setup features a 50MP wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — both supported by optical image stabilization (OIS) — plus a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP selfie camera. The camera system’s capabilities are further elevated by Samsung’s dynamic ProVisual Engine, an AI-driven camera engine that takes visual quality to incredible heights. Making its debut in the FE Series, ProVisual Engine features vastly improved technology that leverages advanced AI algorithms to deliver breathtaking detail and remarkably subtle textures:

  1. Nightography with AI image signal processing (ISP) to improve low-light performance, enabling beautiful night portraits
  2. Works with the wide camera’s 50MP Adaptive Pixel Sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x in addition to the optical 3x zoom. AI zoom also provides enhanced image quality at distances between digital zoom lengths. Object-aware engine to recognize scenes and optimize colours in Super High Dynamic Range (HDR), ensuring vibrant and lifelike photos and videos

When it is time to edit, Photo Assist features breathe life into ideas. Since its introduction with the Galaxy S24 Series devices, Galaxy AI has become invaluable for editing images and expressing creativity:

  1. Generative Edit reassembles the world through object moving and removal capabilities, allowing more creative freedom
  2. Portrait Studio reimagines selfies as cartoons, comics, watercolour paintings, or sketches to add flair to online profiles
  3. Edit Suggestions quickly remove pesky flaws, such as reflections, with the press of a button
  4. Instant Slow-mo immortalizes every second of life’s important moments in a snap

The powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset enables an uncompromised gaming experience compatible with cutting-edge features such as Ray Tracing. In a world where every bit of speed and efficiency counts, the Galaxy S24 FE utilizes several key features to stay ahead of the competition:

  1. A 1.1x larger vapour chamber improves cooling to maintain peak performance for longer durations
  2. A bigger 4,700mAh battery allows for long, worry-free gaming sessions
  3. A 6.7-inch adaptive Dynamic AMOLED 2X display – the largest display ever used in the FE Series – with up to 120Hz refresh rate provides a smooth and stunning viewing experience
  4. Vision Booster optimizes colour and contrast for clear and comfortable gaming even in sunlight

The Galaxy S24 FE incorporates the same advanced AI experience as the Galaxy S24 Series. Designed to enhance work, simplify communication, and increase connectivity, Galaxy AI on the S24 FE offers tools that unlock new possibilities:

  1. Circle to Search with Google satisfies curiosity with unprecedented ease by offering instant search results with just a long press of the home button and circle
  2. Interpreter instantly translates in-person conversations, lectures, or any other type of presentation, even when offline
  3. Live Translate breaks down communication barriers on phone calls and is now being extended to a selection of popular third-party apps
  4. Composer from Samsung Keyboard generates suggested text based on simple keywords for email and supported social media apps
  5. Note Assist streamlines the note-taking process and automates formatting and translation. In Samsung Notes, you can get transcription, translation, and summarizing of voice recordings directly. Texts in PDF files also can be translated and overlaid through PDF overlay translation

Every Galaxy AI-enhanced experience becomes even more useful when the Galaxy S24 FE is connected to Samsung’s expansive mobile ecosystem. It seamlessly transfers files, quickly sets up extended displays, and effortlessly executes complex creative ideas through intuitive inputs. In this hyper-connected Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, the Galaxy S24 FE enables experiences that increase productivity, creativity, and efficiency.

Building on the innovative legacy of the S Series, the Galaxy S24 FE is fortified with strong security. Samsung Knox, Galaxy’s multi-layer security platform that safeguards critical information and protects against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection.

As a continuation of the S24 Series tradition of sustainable design, the Galaxy S24 FE has been made to do more with less when it comes to the planet’s resources. It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminium, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components. It also features seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates and comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper material.

Customers who purchase the breakthrough Galaxy S24 FE will receive a complimentary bundle of value-added services from premium Gulf brands worth up to AED 598. This exclusive package includes offerings from Samsung Entertainer, Anghami, VIU Premium and Starzplay Sports, providing customers with an extensive suite of entertainment and dining options to elevate their lifestyle.

The Galaxy S24 FE is available in retail stores and online starting October 3rd. At launch, customers can enjoy double the storage — a 256GB variant for the same price as the 128GB, starting from AED 2,399. The Galaxy S24 FE is available in Blue, Graphite, Gray, and Mint colours.

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Networking

e& UAE Launches Managed Wi-Fi 7 Services

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e& UAE, the telecommunications arm of e&, today announced the launch of its Managed Wi-Fi 7 services. Designed to meet the growing demands of businesses, this next-generation wireless solution offers up to four times faster speeds and twice the capacity of previous Wi-Fi generations, delivering enhanced operational efficiency and scalability.

Hamad Mohamed Almarzooqi, Senior Vice President of Pre-Sales and Business Operations, e& UAE, said: “Wi-Fi 7 marks a transformative leap in wireless networking with faster speeds, greater capacity, and enhanced adaptability. This technology is integral for those looking to optimise virtual conferencing, cloud applications, AR/VR experiences, and other data-intensive applications. The launch of our Managed Wi-Fi 7 services underscores e&’s commitment to providing cutting-edge connectivity solutions, designed to meet the evolving demands of diverse industries.”

Backed by e& UAE’s managed services expertise, the newly launched Managed Wi-Fi 7 services are set to introduce a new era of high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity and improved network stability. These services enable organisations to handle higher device density and increasing digital demands with ease. As a result, businesses can boost productivity, enhance collaboration, and drive innovation.

With a team of dedicated professionals overseeing deployment and management, e& UAE ensures that customers fully leverage the capabilities of the Managed Wi-Fi 7 services. By investing in a robust WiFi and cloud infrastructure, organisations can fully harness the potential of modern workplace applications while strategically positioning themselves for future advancements. This technology sets a new benchmark in connectivity, supporting businesses with tangible advantages as they adapt to an ever-evolving digital landscape.

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