Iconic mobile brand Moto, a mobile unit of the Lenovo Group Holdings, plans to be the third biggest mobile phone supplier in the Philippines with the introduction of a perky new line-up of entry level units.
“Our brand used to be the second biggest mobile phone company in the Philippines. What we want is not to be a retailer but a product manufacturer that brings innovation. We want to bring premium phone to the entry segment,” said Lenovo executive director for Asean Agustin Becquet in a briefing Tuesday at Okada, Manila.
Within the course of eight months after the mother company launched the rebranded Motorola line as Moto, Lenovo now is driving innovation in a more affordable smartphone portfolio.
Revenue worldwide hit $45 billion in 2016 with the mobile business group accounting for almost 20 percent of the total.
Becquet said the Philippines was a fast-moving market and drawing more smartphone users as handsets become not only affordable but also packed with strong value propositions.
The entry of the affordable handsets was expected to drive sales of Moto units in the Philippines, said Moto country manager Juan Armando Rojo.
The Moto C, Moto C Plus and Moto E4 Plus will hit the shelves of Moto stores in about two and a half weeks, with arrangement for postpaid plans with Globe Telecom Inc.
Moto is also set to introduce the premium Moto Z line in 2018, which is estimated to hit sales of 3 million units worldwide.
“The Philippines is an important market for Motorola. We are committed to growing the business in the country by increasing retail footprint and creating consumer engagement through experiential activities and communications that will set Motorola apart as a global iconic brand,” said John Rojo, country manager of Lenovo Philippines MBG.
Moto stores will be seen in major and key cities in the country in the next two years as the company is putting in more money in marketing and visibility programs.