Varmobilitysupplement oct2014

October 2014

Du to showcase Smart City solutions

Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Commercial Officer, du

At GITEX Technology Week 2014, du will take visitors on a journey into the Smart Cities Future in the UAE. Demonstrations at du’s stand will illuminate how connectivity will facilitate the realisation of the UAE’s 2021 Vision, by empowering the community through the development of a knowledge-based economy with technology as a key competitive advantage. du will showcase the ways in which innovative Information Communications Technology (ICT) solutions can be used to create a Smart environment, in which convenience and reliable connectivity foster happiness and productivity within the community.

Through interactive zones that represent the Smart future of the UAE, du invites visitors to explore the technologies that will make working life, city life and home life even more enjoyable.

Discover the convenience of being able to stay connected whenever, wherever, and on whatever device you choose, using a secure internal and external environment to interact with your world on a whole new level.

The core of the UAE’s Smart future is dependent upon the reliability of its connectivity solutions. Reliability comes from two sources: a strong, state-of-the-art network infrastructure, and the security capabilities required to protect connected community assets. du recognises how vital these two aspects are to Smart City development, and is committed to delivering beyond the nation’s requirements in order to fully support the vision of the UAE leadership.

In conjunction with these is the development of technologies that allow Smart City residents to interact with their connected environment.

By working closely with the UAE’s government departments, small and medium enterprises, and the community itself, du is enabling the creation of customised applications and connectivity solutions that will empower people in the Smart future.

Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Commercial Officer, du, says, “Future is all about a hyper connected

Sub-$150 Smartphone Sales to Drive Growth in Emerging Markets

society in which Smart technologies make everyone’s lives simpler, convenient and happier – by enabling everyone access to unprecedented e-services. Our GITEX 2014 showcases these technologies, unlocking human potential to the fullest. I invite everyone to visit us and get a first-hand experience of these never-before technologies which have the potential to dramatically change the way we live, work and play.”

He adds, “For years, GITEX has been the ideal platform for us to share innovation with our customers and the people of the UAE, while exploring the latest trends in the ICT world. We are very pleased to be participating in GITEX again this year, and look forward to the opportunities that the event will present.” du will showcase its ICT solutions and services at GITEX 2014, including those that enable SMEs and large enterprises to fully embrace the Smart initiatives that are being launched by the UAE government.

Juniper Research estimates that the number of smartphone shipments will approach 1.2bn this year, an increase of 19% from 985m in 2013. The market is expected to be driven by growth in emerging markets, due to a continued surge in sales and adoption of low-cost Economy ($75-$150) and Ultra-Economy (sub-$75) smartphones.

The report - Smartphone Markets: Trends, Shares & Forecasts 2014-2019 - notes that the emerging markets are now vital to success in this sector, with the gap between the growing emerging markets and the stagnating mature markets closing.

Emergence of the Sub-$150 Smartphones While Apple and Samsung continue to dominate the Ultra-Premium end of the market, these vendors are facing significant pressure from local players in the emerging markets. For example, Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone vendor, is witnessing tremendous success in China and India as a result of its aggressive price-point offerings.

These new players are beginning to build market share and achieve larger economies of scale, which eventually will enable them to expand their offering and challenge other Smartphone sectors in the future.

Additionally, Google is partnering with local vendors for its Google-One initiative to provide a unified feature set tailor-made for the low-cost smartphone market.

The Average Selling Price of a smartphone will decline globally to reach $274 by 2019, the report notes.

Review | ZTE Blade VEC 4G

ZTE Blade Vec 4G Specs 5.0”HD, 1280x720 Display; 13MP Rear, 2MP Front Camera; LTE; Android 4.4 KitKat; Qualcomm Snapdragon with 1.2 GHz quad-core CPUs; 1GB RAM + 16GB Memory Rating:  Performance:  Features:  Price:  Pros: LTE; Good Value; Design Cons: No MicroSD storage extension; no FullHD

In the Middle East 4G/LTE networks are being

the region. This kind of legacy and obvious

you start using a 4G phone like the Blade. The

implemented left right and centre and it’s great

technology transfer means that any device

fast internet downloads of content, including

to see phones and tablets with 4G capabilities

bearing the ZTE comes already highly

video was a delight seeing that I use a 3G

One of the earlier adopters is ZTE which recently

recommended.

phone.

launched it Blade Vec 4G Smartphone.

On powering up the Blade, I was greeted

ZTE has added some native

by a crisp-looking screensaver of Eiffel Tower.

customizations on top of Android including

Features

I immediately had high expectations of the

a Clean Master app that provides an update

The unit I got was a sleek black unit surprisingly

quality of photos and videos. The 5.0 inch

on storage and phone performance. With one

light for a fully powered Smartphone with the

TFT display disappoint with some real good

touch, you can clean up storage of junk which

rounded edges making it seem more so. ZTE

and sharp images and great viewing angles,

ostensibly boosts up performance. The system

has adopted an interesting twist on its design,

enabled by the IPS technology. Video is played

also allows one to add apps on the home

literally flipping the normal design we have got

back in full 1080p HD glory. However, no

screen by tapping on it.

used to. The charging port is on the top, while

FullHD specs here as many other high end

the earphone jack takes its place at the bottom.

phones.

The power button is below the volume rocker

The primary camera at a decent 13 MP is a good deal although higher quality cameras are available with premium models. But again

to the right. The placement of these two makes

Performance

it’s the quality you are getting vs the price and

a lot of sense when you start using the Blade.

The Blade, as could be expected, runs on KitKat

on that account, the Blade more than delivers.

With your hand wrapped around the phone

4.4.2 OS, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon

The camera allows autofocus as well as an LED

in normal use mode, adjusting the volume or

400 Quad-core CPU. The 16GB of internal

flash. Add geo-tagging, touch focus and face

waking up the phone is intuitive and convenient.

storage may be a bit limiting depending on

detection, and your selfies never looked better.

I also liked the thin bezels on the sides

how you use your phone, as storage is not

which translates into more real estate for media

expandable. This was a bit of a disappointment

Verdict

viewing. The back, made of glass fibre with a

since almost every phone in the market allows

At around 1000AED in the UAE, what sets the

patterned stripe design has a nice pixel effect

for SD card storage expansion. The battery

Blade apart is the balance between price and

that adds some textured feel to it.

capacity is at 2300mAh which is standard for

the features. 4G is still considered premium and

a phone with such configurations. A full day

LTE phones from other top vendors don’t come

under normal usage is possible.

cheap. For ZTE to bring a relatively high quality

It’s good to remember that ZTE is a leading vertically integrated global telecom technology provider and has provided networking equipment on the back end of some 4G installations in 6 | October 2014

4G networks are faster than its 3G predecessor. You do not realise how fast until

4G phone at an affordable is a commendable feat. This is a definite recommended buy.

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P.O. Box No. 1398 Office #406 Atrium Center, Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE TEL: +971-4-3865144 | Fax: +971-4-3865133 Email: sales@musallamtrading.com

Feature | Distribution

Distributors see bleak future prospects for feature phones as smartphone become more affordable With several new brands of smartphones having entered the market, prices are in freefall in the entry level smartphones market. The prices are jaw dropping such as those you may have scan through in the deals published in the retailer leaflets or if you were one of the attendees at the recent GITEX shopper where every smartphone seemed to have a deal written over it.

The rules of the game are shifting and doing so rapidly. While premium end phones like the iPhone or the Samsung S5 and even others like the HTC one M8 will still hold their aspirational appeal, there is no doubt that the smartphone penetration is going through the roof. A lot of consumers who couldn’t have afforded a smartphone and may have always compromised when finally making a purchase now can gleefully pick from several choices at prices that don’t prick.

On the other hand, it may make the Business a lot tougher for the supply chain. It will mean they need to start selling that many more units to make up. In addition, they are also hopeful that consumers will look for product quality as well as quality in after sales which could be a differentiator among Brands.

Niranjan Gidwani, Deputy CEO, Eros Group says, “The influx of new brands will result in an erosion of prices and firstly an elimination of feature phones. However it is imperative that with this influx consumer must look out for a qualitative and responsive after sales service that is top-notch. That will become the single biggest differentiator in this segment.”

The Eros Group distributes a wide array of consumer electronics brands representing some of the world’s leading brands. In mobility solutions it distributes Samsung smartphones 8 | October 2014

and tablets. Recently the distributor was also awarded the distribution rights for Alcatel range of tablets.

Ajay Pathak, General Manager, Mobility & Solutions, Jumbo Electronics says, “There is a significant competition to come out with ‘wow’ products. New innovations are coming out in terms of camera specs, shape and size.

There is pricing competition. We may end up having to sell out ‘x’ number of units more to make up for price fall in industry.”

Jumbo is a distributor for several brands of smartphones in the region in addition to its Power retail business. Its recent tie-ups include those for distribution of Lava-Xolo and Mobi Brands.

Feature phones are seeing a sharp decline in sales as more consumers switch to smartphones from feature phones.

Ajay adds, “Smartphones will continue to grow and they are coming into the price bands of feature phones at the entry level. So feature phones will decline and die out possibly in the next couple of years.”

“Feature phones are seeing a rapid decline largely as Chinese brands influx the market with low cost smartphones. With fast eroding prices consumers are fast making the shift to smartphones as we saw in the recently concluded GITEX,” adds Niranjan.

While Android seems to be ruling the roost along with the iPhone, Windows based phones are struggling to make an impact and is still marginal.

Ajay says, “Windows phones mostly come

Niranjan Gidwani, Deputy CEO, Eros Group

A mix of value and volume

from Nokia. This might change in some time with many other existing brands that could come out with them. The consumer pull is not significant but there will be a lot of value that customers can see in seamless extension from some of the Microsoft applications such as Outlook. This could bring in consumer pull going forward.”

However, the distributors are carrying some Windows based phones as well as manufacturers begin to launch Windwos based phones.

Niranjan adds, “Currently, Android phones make almost 100% of our portfolio. The market for windows phones is quite small with Samsung and android dominating and the iphone 6 making a comeback. It is unlikely to make a large impact but as we have seen earlier as well a game changer can turn around fortunes. We do retail a wide range of smartphones including windows phones through Eros Digital Home.”

As distributors see their brand portfolio growing, they are also looking to consolidate their reach with independent retailers in addition to the organized retail stores.

Continued on P 14 VAR Review Mobile Supplement

John Sculley, Founder, Obi Mobiles

David Garcia, Int'l Business Development Director, Wiko Global

Feature

Aiming for the consumer New entrants striving for consumer connect as a differentiator The battle in the smartphones market is getting fiercer by the day with the entry of new brands that are offering smartphones at more affordable price points, prices which even approach those of feature phones. However, the smartphones market continues to see a healthy growth rate worldwide, in the region of 23% or so in the current year. This essentially means there is room to accommodate more brands but some of the leading incumbents, including the top two, the iPhone and Samsung are witnessing their market share eroding as the new entrants make inroads, especially in the entry and mid segments.

The commoditization of smartphones Technology means manufacturers can offer devices at much more competitive prices than in the past years. Newer entrants are therefore trying to shift the spotlight to design and user experiences.

Obi Mobiles, the new smartphone brand co-founded by veteran marketer and former Apple CEO John Sculley, for instance has entered the Middle East region, appointing Jumbo as its distributor. John had come down for the regional launch recently in Dubai and was categorical in spelling out that they are positioning to 10 | October 2014

target the youth in emerging markets and are counting on creating the appeal of alluring user experience as a differentiator and build the brand through some trendy positioning.

He says, “Our focus is only the emerging markets. We are targeting specifically young people. We are inspired by the aspirational brand of Apple which has focused on making Technology beautiful or make it invisible. We never talk about Technology in our marketing – we talk about the user experience. Obi is also looking at building Brand Ambassadors who can use social media to give recommendations and advise to other Obi customers.”

It seems like every manufacturer out there now has similar technology specs to offer among comparable models. In such a scenario, manufacturers need to start looking at new differentiators other than mere hardware specs.

Obi is also focusing on offering disruptive price points which John says are key to success in emerging markets.

John says, “The smartphone industry growth in emerging markets is soaring at +32% CAGR in 2014. If you look at the brands that have dominated for long in the phones market, they were built with great Technology. Many of them

are struggling now at the present price points.

At Obi, we are brand builders and sales channel builders on a global scale. We can be profitable at more aggressive price points than other multinational brands as we use youth-centric positioning and excellent partner relationships, such as Jumbo, which will differentiate us from other global brands.”

He adds, “We thought as technology commoditizes, we can take advantage of that and we can shift the investments to design, which is what have been doing. We have the same team that worked with me at Apple. We are doing our design center in Silicon Valley and the Creative marketing work is being done out of Delhi.”

One of the other recent entrants has been Wiko, a leading smartphone brand based out of France. With multiple models launched recently on the sidelines of GITEX shopper, this brands too looks at a close connect with consumers.

After making its debut in the Gulf region in the United Arab Emirates, Wiko will also shortly launch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in midOctober.

David Garcia, International Business Development Director, Wiko Global, says, “We have an extensive 3G and 4G smartphone line up but have launched only a few here. Wiko is setting a new direction for the smartphone market. We want to provide possibility to buy high end smartphones at affordable prices. Our phones offer the best balance between quality, technology, design and pricing. “ The company harbors big ambitions. It hopes to achieve sell out volumes between 50000 to 70000 units every month in the UAE in quick time. The manufacturer whose distributor is EMS in the country, will look therefore to create a brand recall with the consumer market.

He adds, “We will look to get closer to the consumer. with campaigns around that. It will not just about having our hoardings everywhere.

We will need to connect with consumers so that they understand our products better.”

So the new entrants are looking to thrive as the TAM (total available market) of the smartphones industry swells. They will look to appeal to specific user segments rather than locking horns with brands with considerable loyalty.

John elaborates, “We are not going to fight it out with the incumbent leaders. We are going to change the way of thinking about a Mobile device.

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Showcase | Obi Mobiles

Obi Wolverine S501 – premium inside-out The Obi Wolverine S501 impresses with its fine grain leather exterior and top-of-the-line features. The 5” smartphone offers the efficiency of Android KitKat 4.4, powered by a 1.2GHz Dual Core Processor, with 1GB RAM and 4GB expandable memory. For added convenience, the Wolverine is designed with a Rear Key that utilizes the index finger's natural position to control volume, lock the screen and switch off the phone. With a 5MP flash-enabled camera, and Octopus S520 – OS with a crunch

front VGA camera, the dual SIM (3G +3G) device

The flagship smartphone from Obi Mobiles,

offers great value at AED399.

the Octopus S520 packs in high performance

Obi F240 –power on the go

with the latest Android Kit Kat 4.4 operating

The Obi range also includes the Obi F240 – a feature

system, powered by a 1.7 GHz Octa Core

phone, equipped with a high capacity 3000mAH

processor, making time lags a thing of the past.

Futuristically designed with a stunning fullaluminum back cover, the Octopus S520 comes in a sleek 8.4mm form factor, with a capacitive 5” HD IPS Touch Screen that responds to even the slightest touch. The smartphone also features an

battery, and a convenient power bank option to recharge other mobile devices. The handy device also offers essential mobile functionality, including a 0.3MP primary camera, loudspeaker, Bluetooth, as well as dual SIM (GSM + GSM) capabilities as just AED99.

8MP camera with lightning flash, delivering every image at a 1280 X 720 HD display resolution.

The in-built IPS technology also ensures that the screen can be viewed from a wider viewing angle. Offering dual SIM capabilities, both 3G-enabled, the Octopus S520 offers incredible value at just AED799.

Obi Hornbill S551 elegance and functionality rolled in to one Styled to perfection, the 5.5” Hornbill S551 weighs just 145 grams, making it an ergonomically superior option for smartphone users. Uncompromising on Obi Falcon S451 – the ‘selfie’ master One of the world’s first smartphones with a rotating camera, the Falcon S541 from Obi takes away the hassle from capturing that perfect selfie. The 5” smartphone, with an IPS qHD Screen, features an 8MP auto focus camera that rotates 206 degrees, and also offers dual flash for perfect imaging even in low light conditions. The Falcon S451 runs on a 1.3 GHz Dual Core Processor, with 4GB ROM and 1GB RAM, and is powered by a strong 2200 mAH Lithium battery. It retails for AED599.

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performance, the device operates on Android KitKat v4.4.2, powered by an MTK, MT6582 1.3 GHz QuadCore Processor. With an 8MP camera, the Hornbill S551 offers up to 4GB memory that is expandable to 32GB of external memory support. The device retails at AED599.

October 2014 | 13

In Focus | Jumbo

Ajay Pathak, General Manager, Mobility & Solutions, Jumbo Electronics

Keeping pace Jumbo is a distributor for LG, Lenovo, Sony, Lava XOLO and Obi smartphone brands. Ajay Pathak, General Manager, Mobility & Solutions, Jumbo Electronics who heads the Mobility business of Jumbo speaks about the distributor’s go to market strategy

As you have expanded your portfolio, how do you intend to give each brand an exclusive focus?

It is a firm conviction that the market can accommodate a lot many brands. The spectrum will get broader. Each brand that we take up will have a separate sales and marketing team. There will separate infrastructure in terms of logistics and service facilities to support each. We will also keep strengthening this infrastructure.

Distribution will be based on basis of store demography, location and product fit. We will focus on Micro level distribution in the IR segment including locations such as Satwa, Deira, Rolla in Sharjah, defense road in Abu Dhabi.

How do you see the split in sell out among different channels?

We see the organized retail doing about 55-60% and IR segment contributing 30-35%. The telco segment contributes the rest but it varies from brand to brand.

In the IR segment, we have been operating with Du as their partner for the past 7 years. We therefore have established strong rapport with those retailers and know their credit history and are able to offer appropriate credit quite fast.

Credit does play a key role in the devices distribution.

What are the bigger drivers for smartphone penetration?

It is a combination of reasons. One of the biggest segment of users is still on 2G or mid to entry level 3G phones. We will look at moving them or upgrading to the next level. Also coupled with this is that operators are offering phenomenal data bundles and higher speeds and connectivity. This is favoring the increased demand for upgrade.

Discuss your outlook and strategy on tablets?

There is a separate strategy for tablets. It is a far more competitive market.

Prices keep coming down. Increase in units sell out is offset by drop in the ASP. Value wise, that market is not seeing a significant rise. However, the stranglehold of Apple and Samsung in this segment is reducing. In fact, in some of the markets, Lenovo is the leading Tablet brand. What it essentially means is that if you continue to bring out quality products and back it up with right pricing and good distribution, you can make significant inroads. That market segment will open up further.

Consumers are more aware that there is not much value in the sub-100 USD tablet range. The market and consumers will look at 7-8 inch tablets with pricing in the 100-150 USD bracket – that could be the segment to see maximum growth. This will also likely compel the premium priced brands to reduce their prices.

14 | October 2014

Continued from P 8 Ajay says, “We operate IR distribution through an independent team. There is van sales teams and the sales executives carry PDAs through which they update the stock orders for the retailers with another team fulfilling that order in quick time. Sales turnaround in IR is extremely fast and you need to keep up in terms of visibility and offering fulfillment. With our focus, we are able to do that.”

The have mobile van sale units are constantly seeking to ensure retailers even in farthest corners are well stocked.

Niranjan adds, “Our distribution channel is a complex one which involves organized retail, independent retail, traditional markets as well as corporate sales. We continue to identify new markets and reach out further through unique initiatives like our Independent Retail vehicles which provide Independent Retailers with better services and minimized inventory risks.”

On the road ahead, distributors while introducing new brands in the market with the confidence that there is room for more brands, also need to walk the tight rope between achieving the necessary sell out volumes to achieve the desired net growth. All of that will come with deeper channel penetration and perhaps looking at targeting even the traditional IT reseller market that could be open to stocking and selling smartphones.

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Premium focus Sony is poised to focus more on the premium segment phones as a strategy as it faces stiffer competition. Gita Ghaemmaghami, Marketing Communications Manager at Sony discusses the Brand’s focus.

Please discuss the growth this year in the region for Sony Mobile?

We are performing exceptionally well in an increasingly competitive market, and we are currently on par with our targets for this year.

From what the sales numbers show, which is the stronger segment for Sony in salespremium end, mid-range or entry level in the region?

Each segment plays a role in meeting the demands of the market and bringing alternatives to consumers. Our premium end offering, the Xperia Z range of smartphones is very popular for its sleek design and its premium look and top of the range performance, whereas our value smartphones are great way for consumers to have the latest Sony technology at a competitive price point. There has been equally strong demand for all ranges of Sony Mobile smartphones.

Do you see a growing acceptance of larger screen smartphones- the Phablets?

In March 2013, Sony introduced a 6.4 inch smartphone - the Xperia Z Ultra. This flagship waterproof device proved very popular with consumers that were looking to have a new waterproof smartphone, but with a larger screen so that it could double up as a tablet. Due to the success of the Xperia Z Ultra, and the growing demand for this category of smartphone, we introduced the Xperia T2 Ultra Dual earlier this year. The Xperia T2 Ultra Dual entered the market at a slightly lower price point be more accessible to consumers. The Dual SIM capabilities of the Xperia T2 Ultra gave it that added value that consumers in the region demanded.

Who are your distributors in the region?

We are very proud of the partners that we work with in this region as they offer us comprehensive distribution network in all their respective countries. Our faith in them is VAR Review Mobile Supplement

supported with industry leading customer sales and after sales services; they support both our customers and us with their efficiency and ability to sustain quality services across their regional stores. For the KSA Modern Electronics and Fastlink, while Jumbo and Comtel together insure that Sony Mobile has a comprehensive reach in the UAE, Modern Home in Qatar, Kuwait Barrack in Kuwait, and most recently Expertel in Lebanon.

Which have been the star models for you among your recent launches in terms of sales?

Sony Mobile’s Xperia range of smartphones currently includes a variety of offerings to suit almost any consumer requirement at a range of price points. All our smartphones offer great value for money thanks to a premium design, the use of best quality materials, the latest in operating system upgrades and application support. These are applied to all Sony Mobile phones across the board. Sony has includes a host of Xperia community applications, such as Xperia Lounge which allows every Xperia owner to receive access to exclusive Sony Xperia content.

Do you offer Windows based phones?

First of all, I need to say the obvious: we are focusing on Android. We are establishing ourselves through all the great products you have seen. Second, we have a great relationship with Microsoft and are talking to others. We are always investigating and evaluating. Right now, we don’t have a Sony Mobile product that supports the Microsoft OS, however we cannot speculate on future product launches. The most important message is that the operating system is only important from a technical perspective. At the end of the day, how we would like to please and wow customers is with not an operating system, but what we put on top – what you see, i.e. the battery life, all the rich services we offer, which really make our product beautiful and powerful.

Gita Ghaemmaghami, Marketing Communications Manager, Sony

In Focus | Sony

With more Brands entering the fray , do you think it will accentuate price erosions and reduce profitability?

Sony Mobile has a strong strategic position in the smartphone industry in the region. Sony Xperia offers devices in the premium segment, with our different ranges of smartphones starting from a specific price points. This makes a lot of the new entrants irrelevant to our growth plans in the premium smartphone segment. Even with our mid-range smartphones, we are offering top of the line technology at a great price value, keeping us highly competitive with an increasing market share.

How do you help retail partners increase sell out?

We are in constant communication with our distributors, and have consistent initiatives that assist them in marketing and increasing their sales in order to achieve our collective business targets. We mostly focus on further increasing the value of our products to customers, and thanks to Sony Mobile’s range of accessories, we are able to do that by considerably enhancing the benefits of the customers’ buying decision, and thus making the ownership experience fun, engaging, and moving.

October 2014 | 15

Review | TwinTAB-T103GQ2

TwinMOS TwinTAB T103GQ2 Specs 10.1" IPS Screen; Google Android KitKat 4.4.2; ARM Cortex A7 QuadCore CPU; 8GB Flash Storage; 6400mAh battery; Wi-Fi/3G connectivity Overall Rating:  Performance:  Features:  Price:  Pros: Great Value, 3G, MicroSD storage extension, accessories Cons: Reduced battery capacity, non- Full HD

Performance

responsive enough, even with a screen cover and

The GQ2 of course upgrades to the latest 4.2.2

only slight differentiation with other 10-point

KitKat which means better battery usage,

displays out there.

enhanced support for multi-core CPUs, easier

Memory & Storage Memory 1GB RAM and

navigation, better OS operations overall and

8GB storage. Granted this is not a lot of space

security as well as more comfortable display.

but you do get Micro SD Card capabilities to

The front camera gets a boost from 0.3MP

increase this capacity. 3G and Wi-Fi are enabled

to 2MP with 5MP at the back as in the previous

and both operated at optimal standards when

rendition.

browsing on either.

The battery, perhaps strangely, however

The dual stereo speaker array at the back

gets a downgrade, losing a full 600mAH. That

made some decent audio output although I

said, the KitKat OS is better in battery life so that

almost always interested in is the output when

We have reviewed TwiMOS tablets here before

makes up for the shortfall. Plus 6400mAH is still

using headphones as I always do. Audio was as

and every time we have noted with interest

a lot of juice for any tablet.

good as I have heard it elsewhere.

significant improvements over the last version.

The 10.1 inch IPS Display has a HD Resolution

Accessories bundled include an OTG Cable

The TwinTAB T103 GQ2 is no exception. We

of 1280 x 800 meaning you get to enjoy your

for data transfer to PC as well as a smart leather

reviewed the T103GQ1 earlier this year and it’s

entertainment in vivid and realistic colours.

case, a nice touch for a mid-level tablet.

only prudent we start by comparing between the two versions.

The TwinTAB T103 GQ2 is powered by a Cortex Quad-core A7 (1.3GHz) CPU. As you

Verdict

would expect with a quad core CPU, operations

TwinMOS continues to build soli gadget and

Build

are swift and efficient. There were no noticeable

its continued strength in the MEA mobility

The tablet still has the solid look and build of

performance issues when multi-tasking, for which

market is only a statement to that. I said it

other TwinMOS gadgets. The GQ2 is encased in

multi-core CPUs are made of. In particular, I’m a fan

before and I will say it again, if you are in the

white plastic with a grey back and an aluminium

of reading and listening to music at the same time

market for a mid-level priced tablet of good

edges. This gives it the premium look of far

and still allow myself to be distracted by an incoming

quality, TwinMOS is definitely recommended. In

higher priced brands. However, the smooth back

social media notification. If you are like me, then you

future editions however, we would love to see a

does nothing to improve your grip if you are

should have no worries with the TwinTAB.

camera upgrade, LTE capabilities as well as more

using the tab without the cover.

18 | October 2014

The 5 points Capacitive Touch display was

storage.

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Security | Kasperksy

Kaspersky Internet Security Multi-Device 2015

Today people like to use all sorts of different devices to connect to the Internet. According to a survey conducted by B2B International and Kaspersky Lab, 77% of respondents use more than one type of operating system.

Regardless of their preferred device users need to think about security measures, because the Internet is now fraught with threats that affect all popular platforms. For example, according to Kaspersky Security Network, in 2013 the number of attacks on the OS X platform more than tripled. During the same period, over 143,000 new malicious programs for mobile devices were detected, with more than 99% of them targeting Android OS. Most people are aware of the abundance and variety of network threats. According to the survey, 48% of users are afraid of losing their money in online frauds, 58% fear that someone will get access to their personal information and 60% are alarmed by the thought that cybercriminals can secretly observe them without their knowledge or consent. 48% of respondents worry about what their children might come across on the Internet.

To prevent any confusion that users may face when trying to protect all these platforms, Kaspersky Lab has developed, and is continually improving, the all-in-one solution Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device 2015. It offers cybersecurity to users and their families regardless of which operating system they prefer – Windows, OS X or Android.

Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device 2015 protects devices running: Microsoft Windows – using Kaspersky Internet Security. In addition to antivirus and 20 | October 2014

Key innovations in the 2015 edition

anti-phishing protection it includes a range of other tools and technologies to help protect personal data and online payments as well as monitoring children's activity on the Web with the help of the Parental Control module.

Apple OS X – using Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac. This blocks malware as well as phishing and other dangerous sites in Safari, Mozilla Firefox browsers or in Google Chrome.

Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac also integrates virtual keyboard and the Parental Control module.

Google Android – using Kaspersky Internet Security for Android. Users can block dangerous apps, filter out unwanted calls and messages and protect against online fraud. Users can also wipe personal data if their device is lost or stolen, or help locate it using GPS services.

Windows Phone and iOS – using Safe Browser for Windows Phone and Safe Browser for iOS. Safe Browser filters out phishing sites and pages with undesirable content. Both versions of Safe Browser are free and available for download in the Windows Phone Store and Apple Store respectively.

Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device 2015 includes automatic upgrades to the most recent version. This innovation means users will always have the most reliable and up-to-date security solution.

The System Watcher module has been further enhanced with backup copying functionality to protect information from malware that encrypts user data and demands money to decrypt it.

Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device 2015 includes a Webcam Protection feature that prevents the interception of images from the webcam. Kaspersky Lab has also introduced a Wi-Fi Security Notification module that warns the user about potential hazards when connecting to Wi-Fi. Further, improvements were made to the Safe Money module to protect online financial transactions. In addition to its other functions, Safe Money now blocks third-party applications from accessing the exchange buffer. It also prevents the capture of images from the screen, even when GDI, OpenGL or DirectX is used.

For users of paid Wi-Fi networks, 3G or LTE connections, the solution now includes the Cost-Aware Networking feature that reduces the amount of data communicated by the product via the net. In addition, in the anti-phishing module, improvements were introduced into the text, image and website link analysis technology. This enables a more accurate detection of previously unknown phishing sites.

The interface has been unified across all products so users can easily navigate each application regardless of the operating system or product version.

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