Smartphones for youths at PC Expo 2012

The year-end PC Expo 2012 starts this Friday with a taste for all things shiny, snappy and youthful

OCTOBER 2, 2012, KUALA LUMPUR – With Budget 2013 announced, the year-end PC Expo 2012, which starts this week, will sharpen its digital lifestyle focus to benefit youths entering the job-market.

The popular three-day digital lifestyle PC Expo will be held in five venues spanning three legs starting this Friday, October 5 at Village Mall in Sungai Petani. The Expo follows in the wake of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who announced last Friday a RM200 rebate programme for youths purchasing a smartphone. Youths who qualify for this programme must be between 21 and 30 years-old with a monthly income of less than RM3,000.

According EM Exhibitions (M) Sdn Bhd project director Jeslynn Wong Lee Chen, this incentive will spur the growth of digital lifestyle especially for youths. “Such an incentive is an endorsement and it says youths new in their jobs need to stay relevant and competitive using smartphones. Affording a smartphone to stay “connected” and “collaborate” with co-workers is crucial.” In addition, she highlighted prices for entry-level Android-based smartphones have spiraled downwards as this will certainly make smartphones more attractive and affordable for youths. ”

PC Expo regulars like Muhammad Hafiz Anuar, 22 and Benjamin Wong Yiaw Mun, 20 gave thumbs up to Budget 2013 and look forward to the Expo. “I need a smartphone to stay connected to my colleagues, course mates and family. I can answer emails from my course mates, reply to my manager on social messaging platforms or refer online about product specifications using a smartphone. Using a smartphone makes me more efficient,” said Muhammad Hafiz who is bound for France next year to complete his studies and currently works part-time as a technician. “I will surely shop for a smartphone at PC Expo 2012 this November that fits my affordability level.”

Meanwhile Wong is eyeing Samsung Galaxy Note 2. “As youths, our affordability level is basically aimed at entry-level models. However, the new Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has caught my attention. I will be at PC Expo 2012 to try it first hand and compare it with other smartphones. I think the RM200 rebate is an excellent idea and only wished it is more. Most decent smartphones are priced above RM1,000. I turn 21-years-old in a few months and hope the rebate would increase by then,” he said.

More than 300 exhibitors will participate at PC Expo 2012. In Sg. Petani this week, exhibitors include Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Maxis Mobile Sdn Bhd, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd, YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, AMD (M) Sdn Bhd, Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn Bhd and Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd. Digital lifestyle retailers participating this week include Thunder Match Technology Sdn Bhd, E-Kiosk Computer Sdn Bhd, Photo In Sdn Bhd, MaxQ Solutions Sdn Bhd, GGA Technology Sdn Bhd and Keypoint Computer Sdn Bhd.

The second leg of the Expo will be held November 2 – 4 at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Penang International Sports Arena in Penang and Persada Johor Convention Centre in Johor Bahru. The third leg of the Expo will be held November 9 - 11 at Melaka International Trade Centre in Melaka.

The focus on youths and affordability levels has gained both attention and traction. “We will have several activities like RM169 offers for 500GB Buffalo external hard disks, RM199 for HP Laserjet P1102 and RM9.90 for Kingston 8GB USB drives,” she said adding these special offers will appeal to youths.

More than RM50,000 worth of prizes are available for PC Expo 2012 activities*. These include activities like “Lucky Draw” with prizes like the new iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0”, Alcatel OT979 Special Edition Phone and Sony Hello Kitty Limited Edition Handycam. “We also appeal to fashionable and trendy youths with limited edition, colourful, theme-based, shiny and snappy USB devices featuring themes from Batman, Transformer 3, Doraemon, Ironman and Avengers.”

Other PC Expo 2012 activities include “Unlock and Win” where a Samsung Galaxy S3 is the grand prize and “Like, Share and Tag” with prizes like an iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Both activities are available online at PC Expo Facebook (www.facebook.com/pcexpo).

* Terms & conditions apply.