Accenture: Consumers less likely to buy single-function devices [Hardware] [Times of India]

(Times of India Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Consumers are less likely to buy single-function electronic products in the next year, while intentions to buy multi-function devices have increased dramatically, according to a new Accenture survey. The online survey included 11,000 consumers in 11 countries: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The survey explored consumer usage and spending habits for 16 types of consumer electronic devices, 11 of which perform a single function and five that execute multiple functions. Consumers' intentions to purchase single-function devices have fallen or remained flat compared with the prior year. The percentage of survey respondents planning to buy BluRay DVD players fell slightly, from 11% to 10%, while purchase intentions for digital photo cameras, digital video cameras, and game consoles remained flat.

In sharp contrast, the percentage of respondents planning to buy multi-function devices in the next year increased significantly, from 16% a year ago to 36% for desktop and laptop PCs; from 27% to 41% for smartphones; from 20% to 33% for HDTVs; and from 16% to 23% for tablet computers.

"The consumer electronics market is now predominantly a four-horse race among multi-function devices--PCs, smartphones, tablets and HDTVs," said Mattias Lewren, managing director for Accenture's Electronics and High-Tech industry group.

While purchase intent for single-function devices is largely flat or declining, a few bright spots emerged, namely basic mobile phones, global positioning satellite (GPS) devices, health and fitness devices and, to a lesser extent, eBooks. The percentage of survey respondents intending to purchase these devices rose, albeit from a relatively small base: basic mobile phones (increased from 6% to 10%), GPS (from 9% to 11%), health and fitness devices (from 7% to 9%) and eBooks (from 8% to 9%). But the functionality of even these devices is increasingly being integrated into multi-function products such as smartphones.

The survey also polled respondents on operating system preferences. It revealed a lack of loyalty to any single operating system for use on most multi-function devices. Nearly two-thirds indicated they might consider purchasing a mobile or computing device with a different operating system. About one-fourth said they would consider a switch to "see what else is on the market"; 23% to "have a better user experience with another operating system"; and 23% to "get access to more innovative services and applications." (c) 2013 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited

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