Android’s rise in Asia causing sales of bluetooth audio docks to multiply: Research

Image: Jake Maymar

Bluetooth table audio docks have multiplied in sales over the past year in Asia, says research firm GfK. Accounting for this is the fact that Android has gained steam in the region, registering 69 percent of smartphone sales in Southeast Asia in Q1 2013.

Android users prefer the Bluetooth audio dock because its versatility makes it compatible with most devices, says Gerard Tan, an account director at GfK Asia. Another reason for its rising popularity is because these devices enable users to stream their audio from a distance.

Across developed markets in Asia-Pacific, growth in sales of these devices have varied between three times to almost ten times. While accounting for a minority of total audio dock sales, bluetooth sets are fast rising in popularity.

More brands are jumping on the bandwagon to cater to the demand: Two years ago, eight major brands offered consumers 15 models, while this has grown to 31 brands with 57 models in the past year.

Overall, annual table audio dock sales have grown in Asia except for Hong Kong, where growth has peaked since it is relatively more mature than other markets.

This growth accompanies the rising traction for smartphones. In Singapore, over 3.1 million smartphones were sold in the past year, 33 percent more than the preceding 12 months.