Mobile Accessories

Are peripherals the future of mobile-phone sales?
According to a study released Monday by the NPD Group, U.S. consumer purchases of
mobile phone handsets dropped by 20 percent from January to April, an indication that
retailers may need to turn to accessories to increase their revenues. To date, however,
consumers aren't buying.
Sixty percent of mobile phones are bought in stores owned by wireless carriers, the
research firm found,where sales staff encourage consumers to pick up an extended
warranty, car kits, hands-free devices, and other accessories.
But 39 percent of all mobile-phone buyers refuse to purchase any accessory for their
phones, whether those peripherals be a Bluetooth headset, a music kit, or some other
peripheral device. That represents a lost opportunity for electronics retailers, NPD said.
According to NPD, just 18 percent of mobile-phone users purchased a Bluetooth headset,
even though nearly 80 percent of all phones sold include Bluetooth technology. Just two
percent of U.S. consumers have purchased music kits, even though 60 percent of phones
sold can play music. Barely 3 percent have purchased stereo headsets, NPD said.
Interestingly, however, about half of consumers are willing to buy an accessory from
somewhere other than an a phone retailer, NPD found. That might turn out to be good
news for both carrier stores and big-box retailers; on one hand, some customers are willing
to buy bundles of phones, accessories and other supplies. Others, however, are willing to
shop around for their peripherals.
Still, the numbers of peripherals sold compared to the phones themselves remains limited.
"With saturation increasing and the pace of new phone adoption slowing, there's still room
to increase revenues from the sale of mobile phone accessories like Bluetooth headsets,
memory cards, and car kits," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD, in a
statement.