Apple Inc. (AAPL): Riding the Highs and Lows of the Smartphone Market

As BGR pointed out, the new 625 will sell for about $300 greater than local vendor phones in Asia, but will come with specifications close to many Asian-made smartphones and will rely on its brand recognition to help sell the phone. While the 625 is on the higher end of low-priced smartphones, Nokia is also focusing on emerging markets with its Asha 501 smartphone — a $99 device that started shipping in 90 countries last month.

While high-end phones are still selling well in some markets, the shift toward cheaper phones is definitely in full swing. Investors looking for future gains from tech companies would be wise to look into which companies have a solid global strategy for smartphone sales. Despite strong iPhone sales this past quarter, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) still needs to work harder to succeed in emerging markets. Meanwhile, Nokia is firmly in emerging markets but has to prove to potential customers that it’s worth considering among a growing number of smartphone options.

No smartphone maker is impervious to the changing mobile landscape, and I’d be cautious to assume that any device maker out there knows exactly how to tackle growing markets. As we’ve seen in Asia, smaller vendors are giving the big guns a run for their money — and the same story may play out in other emerging markets as well.

The article Riding the Highs and Lows of the Smartphone Market originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Chris Neiger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Gartner, and Google. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Citigroup, and Google.

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