Filipinos to buy fewer cellphones this year as they 'prioritize' expenses

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos may buy fewer mobile phones this year as users are expected “prioritize" their expenses and as higher prices eat into their incomes, a research company said. Cellphone purchases are expected to fall to the bottom of consumers’ priorities since “basic necessities have to come first," the International Data Corp. said. Reduced mobile phone purchases may also be the result of the global slowdown, the research company said. Although cellphone shipments rose by four percent during the third quarter last year compared to 2007, the figure still is lower during the previous three months last year, the IDC said. Moreover, mobile phone subscribers are seen to grow by 21 percent this year, compared to last. Despite this expansion, shipments of cellphones are seen to fall by 0.3 percent year on year. As of September, the Philippines has 65.9 million mobile phone users, more than two thirds of the country’s population. "Various factors contributed to the decline of mobile unit shipments in the country. Higher inflation and higher consumer prices have led the way for lesser purchasing capacity for the consumers," IDC said. - GMANews.TV