LG launches 84-inch Ultra HD TV in Pakistan

LG has launched the world’s first 84-inch Ultra HD TV, equipped with 3D technology in Pakistan on May 16, with aspiring strategy to increase the reach, widen its product range and compete with fellow multinational Samsung in the market by investing billions in Pakistan.

The 84-inch Ultra HD TV is priced at Rs. 2 million which is strictly in reach of wealthy only.

President of Electronics Gulf DY Kim said that LG had decided to expand its operations by enhancing production capacities to capture growing consumer demand in Pakistan. Currently LG only had LCDs and TVs assembling facility in the Pakistan market but it was planning on starting to produce other household items like microwaves and washing machines as well. He said that the company wanted to give the consumer some other options as well and hopefully that would not take much time.

FBR may consider to revise taxes on mobile phones in the upcoming budget

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to review its decision of imposing Rs. 1000 tax on smartphones which itenforced in the first week of April 2013.

According to latest reports, a meeting between FBR officials and representatives of mobile phone industry on Wednesday resulted in a little success as the revenue authority assured them of reviewing the recently imposed tax rate on mobile phones in Pakistan.

According to SRO 280, dated April 4, all smartphones that land in Pakistan are subject to Rs. 1000 additional tax whereas Rs. 500 was imposed on all other mobile phones which do not come under the umbrella of smartphones.

The measure badly hit the mobile phone import in Pakistan which rely mostly on lower end or ultra-low cost mobile phones as a major contributor to the total monthly import. Not only the import figure came down but smuggling of mobile phones surged during the reported period.

Mobile phone sellers have been staging protest all over the country over this harsh tax structure.

FBR officials have hinted that the authority will consider reducing Rs. 1000 tax to Rs. 700 on smartphones and Rs. 500 would be brought down to Rs. 350 – 400 in the upcoming budget.

The revenue authority is already facing severe challenges owing to bulk reshuffling of FBR officials on the basis of personal liking and disliking.

It if feared that a targeted revenue of Rs. 2.05 trillion for the year 2012-13 will not be achieved due to internal rifts and uncertain situation. In first 15 days of May, the authority fell short of revenue as it collected Rs. 42.3 billion in taxes, a 19.4% less recovery over the same period in May last year.

Tax on mobile phone industry was a measure to make the situation a little favorable and now, only the upcoming budget will confirm that how newly elected government of PML-N will tackle the issue.

Android & iOS Lead, While Windows Phone Follows

It’s been three years since Microsoft launched Windows Phone as a successor to Windows Mobile. Unlike Windows Mobile, Windows Phone is more consumer focused but does not leave business users behind. After one year of launch, in 2011, Microsoft and Nokia announced their partnership. Nokia also disclosed that how they plan to shift from Symbian to Windows Phone as the primary OS.

Windows Phone has been trying to gain the lost market since its launch. Nokia & HTC have been the two main producers of the Windows Phone devices, while Samsung & Huawei also do produce Windows Phone devices. Nokia partnership has been the best thing that happened to Windows Phone. Nokia Lumia lineup attracted a lot of consumers to Windows Phone due to the distinctive design & experience they provided.

Now, three years later IDC have released there data according to which Windows Phone has officially overthrown Blackberry and is the world’s third most used smartphone OS. Android & iOS combined make 92.3% of the smartphone shipments, which is just remarkable. Here is what the Research Manager with the IDC mobile team, Ramon Llamas had to say:

Windows Phone claiming the third spot is a first and helps validate the direction taken by Microsoft and key partner Nokia,” said Kevin Restivo, senior research analyst with IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. “Given the relatively low volume generated, the Windows Phone camp will need to show further gains to solidify its status as an alternative to Android or iOS.

Here is a table that compares the 2013 Q1 shipments of different smartphone OS.