Union Bank of the Philippines wins 2019 Digital Transformer at the 3rd Annual IDC Digital Transformation Awards (DXa) Philippines

PHILIPPINES, September 26th, 2019 – IDC announced today the Philippine winners of the third IDC Digital Transformation Awards (DXa) 2019 and named Union Bank of the Philippines, the 2019 Digital Transformer for Philippines. Now on its third year, IDC’s DX Awards honors the achievements of organizations that have successfully digitalized one or multiple areas of their business through the application of digital and disruptive technologies. Other winners include: AIDE, ANGKAS, Maria Edita C. Elicaño of Insular Life, Philippine Airlines, and Philippine Rice Research Institute, who all distinguished themselves for their discernible and measurable excellence in their digital transformation (DX) efforts across the five DX masteries and significant efforts to transform or disrupt the market.

Figure1. 2019 Philippines IDC Digital Transformation Awards Winners

Head of operations for IDC Philippines, Randy Roberts says "In our third year of the Digital Transformation Awards in the Philippines, we are very excited to see very impressive progress in the depth and breadth of the submissions in 2019. We are beginning to see real momentum in the development of the digital culture, workforce, business models and ecosystem. In our latest survey, 37% of enterprises in the Philippines assessed themselves as being at an advanced level of digital transformation while identifying the biggest challenges to progress as changing the company culture towards transformation and having commitment from the top levels of leadership. The number of industries represented in this year’s submissions, as well as the types of technologies being deployed in the solutions, is a clear indicator that the commitment to digital transformation is spreading quickly across small and large enterprises as they strive to embody the Future Enterprise."

These are the winners of the 2019 Philippines IDC Digital Transformation Awards, and the outstanding digital transformation initiatives that distinguished them:

UBX: Ushering the Age of Embedded Banking by Union Bank of the Philippines named as 2019 Digital Transformer for Philippines:

UBX ushers in the age of embedded banking in the Philippines, where banking services are woven into the very fabric of everyday life. Under UBX, UnionBank launched Project i2i, which stands for island-to-island, institution-to-institution, and individual-to-individual, a blockchain-based transaction and retail payments system that aims to serve as a catalyst to inclusive prosperity for the 35 million unbanked in the country by enabling different institutions, such as rural banks, cooperatives, and micro-finance institutions to be part of a bigger financial network. i2i aims to provide immediate access to a wide array of financial products and provide a cost-efficient platform to execute these transactions. UBX also features the UnionBank GlobalLinker, a social networking platform that helps MSMEs grow their business with tools for business management and network expansion. Providing offers tailor-fit to MSMEs needs, the free platform is open for UnionBank and non-UnionBank customers. Finally, UBX includes the Blockchain Institute, which offers a six-month program to equip developers with capabilities focused on blockchain, addressing the scarcity of blockchain talents in the current ecosystem. It is also an innovation lab that offers not only coding and development but also work on actual use cases in the organization and provides working blockchain solutions.

Journey to Beat the Traffic in Metro Manila by ANGKAS named as 2019 Digital Disruptor for Philippines:

Angkas was created to help solve the transport problem in Metro Manila. In a country that ranked third in terms of traffic congestion in Southeast Asia, commuters were forced to take alternative transport options that were unsafe and illegal — the habal-habal, driven by motorcycle riders that do not possess proper licenses and training. Although commuters acknowledged the risks by riding this mode of transport, they had to patronize them in order to get around the Metro’s traffic. Angkas allows commuters to book professional motorcycle taxis on-demand, cutting travel time in half and offering a safe and efficient alternative that is up 70% more affordable than cars. Angkas ensures safety by requiring stringent background checks, skills tests, and safety training for their bikers, and by providing quality helmets for both passengers and bikers. The mobile app adds an extra level of safety as Angkas tracks all bikers and bookings on the platform and, should there be any issues, a dedicated customer support team can be reached via phone, email, or social media. Insurance coverage is also provided to both biker and passenger in case of any emergencies. Through this platform, Angkas has also provided habal-habal drivers the opportunity to earn 2 to 3 times of the country's minimum wage and destigmatized the formerly illegal practice and treated it as it was: a necessary and affordable transport option for the gridlocked streets of the Philippines.

Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM) by Philippine Rice Research Institute named as 2019 Information Visionary for Philippines:

PRiSM is the first to implement a nationwide satellite imaging and Information and Communications Technology-based rice monitoring system in Southeast Asia since 2017. PRiSM generates digital rice planted area maps from time series earth images using remote sensing technology and extracts information such as rice area planted, planting dates, and extent of rice fields affected by flood and drought using digital cartography. Rice yield estimates are produced from digital information derived from processed satellite images, ground data collected using mobile technology applications, and crop growth simulation model. PRiSM supports the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) in strategic planning, decision-making, development project implementation, and disaster preparedness through the provision of near-real-time information. Digital technologies like earth observation satellites, communication systems, computer application programs, and electronic sensors are used by PRiSM during process. Through this initiative, PRiSM helps the Philippine DA to fulfill its vision of a technology-based agriculture that will empower the farming communities to produce enough, accessible, and affordable food for every Filipino.

Immersive Virtual Reality Cabin Crew Training by Philippine Airlines named as 2019 Talent Accelerator for Philippines:

Philippine Airlines marks another first in the Philippines by implementing a virtual reality (VR) training program for its cabin crew. In collaboration with a local tech-startup and the local aviation authority, an immersive VR training program was developed to improve the standards of learning and service while cutting training costs. The solution has provided cabin crew members an enhanced and immersive learning experience that has not only resulted to higher retention rates but has also made training more interactive and fun. The VR-enhanced training has also helped PAL cabin crew members acquire stronger skills to respond more effectively under pressure and to real-world challenges, while effectively cutting logistical requirements and dependency to aircraft availability. The solution has also prevented the wear-and-tear of high-value assets such as the aircraft, ground power units, and other equipment needed for cabin training. Cabin crew training metrics such as response time, test scores, and behavioral tendencies are recorded, measured, and reviewed to ensure that standards are met. A VR training module for the Bombardier Q400 NG (Next Generation) is already in the pipeline. PAL's VR training solution is a testament to the airline's commitment in providing 5-star customer service and safety to its passengers.

Project i2i by Union Bank of the Philippines named as 2019 Operating Model Master for Philippines:

i2i, which stands for island-to-island, institution-to-institution and individual-to-individual, is a blockchain-based transaction and retail payments system that aims to serve as a catalyst to inclusive prosperity for the 35 million unbanked in the country by enabling different institutions, such as rural banks, cooperatives, and micro-finance institutions to be part of a bigger financial network. i2i aims to provide immediate access to a wide array of financial products and provide a cost-efficient platform to execute these transactions. Aiming to bring millions of unbanked Filipinos to the financial system, i2i seeks to connect rural banks into the country’s main financial network without the need to invest or to manage technology as it is given to them by UnionBank at no additional costs, allowing them to focus on customer service and satisfaction.

AIDE app named as 2019 Omni Experience Innovator for Philippines:

The AIDE App is the first home mobile application in the Philippines where patient-users may book medical services to be rendered in their homes or offices rather than going to clinics or hospitals. AIDE guarantees that it has taken special care in ensuring that all its clinic partners and subscribed medical professionals are duly licensed and has opened its hotlines to users’ calls concerning special requests or help in scheduling appointments. Through data analytics, AIDE has grown its market by studying app request patterns, user profiles, and growth and retention rates. AIDE's goal is to not just provide a more personal and convenient approach to healthcare, but to also provide Filipino medical professionals better employment opportunities and higher salaries. Today, AIDE has touched the lives of over 100,000 Filipinos, and has onboarded around 4000 medical professionals. Since its launch in 2017, AIDE has established partnerships with various payment platforms, as well as with reputable laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. In the coming years, AIDE hopes to redefine home healthcare for Filipinos – from prevention to treatment, from diagnosis to prognosis, and from curative to palliative care.

Maria Edita C. Elicaño, Executive Vice President and Head of Insular Life Administrative Operations Group, Insular Life named as 2019 DX Leader for Philippines:

Insular Life (InLife) leverages its more than 100 years of experience in spreading the benefits of life insurance to Filipinos. As part of its commitment to its policyholders, InLife aspires to become one of the most digitally connected companies in the life insurance industry. InLife’s digital transformation projects, led by the company’s Executive Vice President and Head of Administration Operations Group Ma. Edita C. Elicaño, enhance the customers’ digital experience and increase the Filipinos’ access to insurance products. InLife fosters an AGILE mindset among its employees, who lead the development of transformation and automation projects alongside those who oversee the business operations. The AGILE mindset and SCRUM framework espouse shared accountability and creativity among employees and strengthens collaboration among relevant units. This culture of innovation fast-tracked the development of key projects, namely the pioneering systems Automated Underwriting System and policy servicing facility I-Serve, as well as the InLife flagship store on ecommerce platform Lazada. These digital transformation initiatives enabled the processing of more than 1,000 underwriting applications in a single day, facilitated online services for its policyholders, and amplified the online availability of insurance products for more Filipinos.

IDC’s DX Awards follows a two-phased approach to determine the country and regional winners. Each nomination is evaluated by a local and regional IDC analyst against a standard assessment framework based on IDC’s DX taxonomy.

All the winning Philippines digital transformation projects were selected as part of over 1000 high-quality entries received from end-user organizations across Asia/Pacific. All the country winners will qualify as one of IDC’s finalists for the regional awards, where they will be benchmarked against other winners in the same category to ultimately determine the region’s best of the best.

The regional awarding ceremony will take place during IDC’s Digital Transformation Summit in Singapore happening on 23-24th of October 2019 at the Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore. For more information on the awards and judging criteria, please visit the IDC DX awards website www.idcdxawards.com

IDC defines Digital Transformation (DX) as the approach where organizations drive changes in their business models and business ecosystems by leveraging digital technologies (e.g. Cloud, Mobile, Big Data/Analytics, Social and IoT) and competencies. Business ecosystems are comprised of customers, partners, competitors and the business itself, along with its business and regulatory environment. To learn more about IDC’s Asia/Pacific Digital Transformation Strategies and research, visit HERE

For media inquiries, contact Randy Roberts rroberts@idc.com or Alvin Afuang aafuang@idc.com. To know more about IDC Digital Transformation Awards, contact Celeste Narvaez cnarvaez@idc.com.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, data and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.

IDC Philippines Reveals Strategies Needed to Become Digitally Determined Enterprise at CIO Summit 2019

MANILA, April 8th, 2019 – IDC hosted its annual CIO Summit at the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila
exploring practical strategies to move businesses through their digital transformation (DX) journey.
This year's CIO Summit, themed “The Digital Determination Playbook”, aimed at helping CIOs piece
together a playbook for taking their organization from being Digitally Distraught to Digitally
Determined.

To be Digitally Determined, Philippine organizations require a 'blueprint' that consists of four key
elements including; a unified enterprise strategy, commitment to organizational and cultural
changes, a long-term investment plan based on the principle that digital is inherently valuable to the
business and a single digital platform to scale technology innovations. IDC’s study revealed that
37% of enterprises in the Philippines are considered Digitally Determined. These businesses have
an integrated strategy where continuous enterprise-wide digital innovation is in place, transforming
their respective markets and reimagining the future through innovative business models and digitally
enabled products and services.

By contrast, the same study found that more than 60% of the local enterprises in the Philippines are
defined as Digitally Distraught. Digitally Distraught enterprises are less mature in their digital
transformation journey and are typically either running digital as an impromptu effort, running
multiple parallel digital strategies initiated by the lines of business or are operating with a short-term
perspective. These organizations are distraught because it is difficult to accomplish a major
transformation when the strategy is not unified or there are high expectations for predictable returns
on investment in the short term.

Randy Roberts, Head of Operations IDC Philippines explains the strategies to move businesses towards becoming Digitally Determined Enterprise.

“Organizations in the Philippines are progressing in their digital transformation maturity where the
percentage of enterprises in the Digitally Determined category is on par with the rest of the Asia
Pacific region. The transition from Distraught to Determined is a difficult one as it relies on the scaling of digital projects within the company which requires investment and consistent execution.”, said Randy Roberts, Head of Operations of IDC Philippines.

Roberts added “After hearing our speakers talk about the real, measurable successes they are
having in their digital transformations, I’m confident we will see more businesses, large and small,
moving into the Digitally Determined category. One of the key performance indicators we saw in the
presentations today is, as IT departments leverage resources to focus more on business outcomes,
the digital transformation strategy moves at a much faster pace. This allows companies to respond
to customers' needs with the rapid creation of new products and services.”
The IDC CIO Summit 2019 brought together almost 100 regional industry leaders and prominent
CIOs across the Philippines including large conglomerates as well as small, start-up companies.
The insights offered at this event will help top business leaders plan the necessary steps to progress
their digital strategy to deliver solutions that disrupt markets and create new revenue streams. Some
of the topics explored at the summit include case studies on leveraging artificial intelligence for more
automation, customer centricity, monetizing data, transitioning traditional business into digital
business, and the needed changes to the culture and skillsets in the workforce.
For media inquiries, please contact Glorie Andrea Perez at gperez@idc.com

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory
services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology
markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise
on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight
help IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based
technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a
subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and Events Company. To learn
more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.

Huawei CloudAIR Solution Awarded as ‘Innovative Network Solution of the Year for Connectivity’ at IMC 2018

Huawei’s CloudAIR solution was awarded by the "Innovative Network Solution of the Year for connectivity", presented by The Ministry of Communications (MoC, India) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

This is in high recognition of Huawei's efforts to address the challenges facing air interface resources on mobile broadband networks. CloudAIR uses cloud technologies to centrally schedule and efficiently utilize air interface resources, enabling operators to optimize resource utilization, unleash network potential, and deliver an overall better user experience.

Huawei’s CloudAIR solution was awarded by the "Innovative Network Solution of the Year for connectivity" at IMC 2018

India boasts a large communications market with 1.1 billion mobile network subscribers. As the Indian government continuously promotes a "Digital India" project, its nationwide terminal penetration rate is on the rise. In addition, reduced tariffs as a result of fierce industry competition also contribute to the rapid development of data services. Video, social media, e-commerce, and many other services have successfully permeated into every facet of people's lives.

On the other hand, the number of existing 2G/3G subscribers remains high while 4G services are in full swing. Indian operators are in urgent need of getting more spectrum resources and expanding bandwidth. However, the spectrum resources are so expensive and scarce that operators find it rather challenging to increase revenue while slashing the cost of operation.

Huawei's CloudAIR multi-RAT spectrum sharing solution can introduce an efficient method to address the spectrum challenges faced by current operators. In addition to guaranteeing the experience of GSM and UMTS users on the network, the solution is also capable of coordinating spectrum resources for LTE users, facilitating the introduction of LTE technologies. It not only helps slash the spectrum cost by over US$ 100 million and the site addition requirement by 20%–30%, but also enhances user experience of data services and increases service revenue.

CloudAIR has been deployed by a number of operators in multiple states throughout India and will be promoted to more cities and suburbs. It is believed to be an ideal answer to the high spectrum and bandwidth requirements brought by a sudden upsurge in LTE services. Up till now, the CloudAIR solution has been commercially applied on more than 80 networks worldwide, with the number of deployments expected to exceed 100 by the end of 2018.

Predator Orion Series Desktops to Feature New 9th Gen Intel Core Desktop Processors to Deliver Powerful Gaming Experiences

Acer today announced refreshes of its Predator Orion 9000 and 5000 gaming desktops, all featuring new 9th Gen Intel® Core™ desktop processors, giving gamers a leap in performance for smooth, seamless gameplay — even while streaming and recording.

“With the new 9th Gen Intel Core processors delivering up to 8 cores and 16 threads, the Predator Orion series desktops provides gamers with an arsenal of PCs that can withstand the most demanding gaming scenarios today,” said Jeff Lee, General Manager, Stationary Computing, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. “The refreshes are in line with Acer’s longstanding commitment to empower users with the latest technological breakthroughs, and provide them with best-in-class user experiences.”

“The new 9th Gen Intel Core desktop processors, featuring our flagship Intel Core i9-9900K, deliver the industry leading real-world performance that gamers demand,” said Anand Srivatsa, Vice President of the Client Computing Group, Intel. “The new Acer Predator Orion series desktops are incredible machines, and by harnessing the gaming performance delivered with the latest Intel Core processors, together we’re delivering premium gaming experiences.”

Powered by 9th Gen Intel Core desktop processors, the Predator Orion series gaming desktops are performance PCs designed for the serious to hardcore gamer. The Predator Orion 5000 is a gaming powerhouse for users who need an exceptional gaming rig, while the Predator Orion 9000 is a gamer’s dream machine aimed at the most demanding users, with top-of-the-line NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2080 Ti GPUs1.

Predator Orion 9000 Series: The Ultimate Gaming Machine

With up to 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K processors and planned support for the new Intel Core X-series processors, the Predator Orion 9000 is the ultimate gaming PC. It features up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPUs, and supports over 8K UHD graphics. A black and silver chassis gives it a spacecraft-like casing that glows with customizable ARGB (Addressable RGB) lighting bars and RGB LED fans. The prominent side window showcases the impressive interior with a design that keeps electromagnetic interference (EMI) levels in check despite the size of the opening. Acer’s IceTunnel 2.0 expels heat through an advanced airflow management solution that separates the system into several thermal zones, each with an individual airflow tunnel.

Predator Orion 5000 Series: Serious Gaming Performance

The Predator Orion 5000 gaming desktop features up to 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-9900K processors and up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPUs. Just like the Predator Orion 9000, the Orion 5000’s chassis has the signature transparent side panel to show off its powerful internals and includes the IceTunnel 2.0 airflow management design to keep the system cool.

1 Specifications may vary depending on model and region

Acer Reports Near 8% YoY Growth in Consolidated Revenues for Q3 2018, Marking A Record High This Year at NT$65.33 Billion

Acer Inc. (TWSE: 2353) announced today its consolidated revenues for the third quarter at NT$65.33 billion, up 7.8% YoY, and up 11.7% over the previous quarter. It also reported revenues for September at NT$22.92 billion, up 2.5% over the previous month, and up 2.5% year-on-year (YoY).

Acer’s gaming line1 and Chromebook line were key contributors to the growth. The gaming line grew by 93% YoY year-to-September, and 74% YoY in Q3, while the Chromebook line grew by 30% YoY year-to-September, and 49% YoY in Q3.

In the third quarter, Acer saw YoY revenue growth across all three regions (Pan-America, EMEA, and Pan-Asia Pacific), with outstanding year-to-September sales in the US, Russia, and Southeast Asia.

1 Acer’s gaming line includes notebooks, desktops and displays

IDC Philippines: Changing Device Usage Habits of Filipinos will Fuel Growth of Smartphones and PCs in 2018

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), device usage habits of Filipinos are rapidly changing, and it is reshaping the connected device trends in the country. Based on IDC's latest Asia/Pacific Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker and Asia/Pacific Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, smartphone shipments declined 7% to approximately 15 million units in 2017, while tablet shipments posted a 30% year-over-year (YoY) drop to 1 million units. On the other hand, PC shipments in 2017 amounted to around 2 million units, showing flat growth of 1% YoY.

Smartphone shipments recorded its first decline since its introduction into the local market as intense competition from top brands, such as Samsung, OPPO, and vivo, resulted in some vendors being ousted from the market. Tablets continued to decline as their significance in the market waned due to the lack of practical use cases and cannibalization by smartphones with larger screen sizes. Traditional PCs continued to grow due to increased education-related purchases and the growing traction of eSports in the country, among others.

Smartphones and Tablets – Changes in Filipinos’ Usage Requirements

A clear trend has recently emerged in the Philippine smartphone market where end users are shifting to handsets with higher specs and better features. The Philippines has historically been among the price-sensitive markets in Asia/Pacific and still is. Despite this, the average selling price of smartphones in 2017 grew to US$134, a 13% YoY increase. Ultra low-end smartphones (<US$100) still hold the lion's share of the market, accounting for 59% of all smartphones in 2017 compared with 67% in 2016. Meanwhile the combined share of low-end (US$100<US$200) and midrange (US$200<US$400) smartphones grew to 35% from 28% in 2016.

Samsung and Chinese brands such as OPPO and Vivo were the key driving brands that led to the growth of the low-end and midrange segments in 2017. "Heavy marketing campaigns and lucrative sales promoter incentives enabled these brands to strengthen their mindshare in the local market, increase their shipments, and grow their respective market shares. The assault of these brands affected the sales of some of the players, resulting in them reducing their supplies, which ultimately impacted overall smartphone shipments," said Jensen Ooi, Senior Market Analyst, Client Devices, IDC ASEAN.

From a screen size perspective, phablets (5.5”<7”) recorded significant growth in recent years, accounting for about a quarter of smartphone shipments in 2017. "As mobile content continues to grow, smartphones have become the primary device for basic productivity and everyday media consumption, and this fuels the need for larger screens and higher specs," Ooi added. On the other hand, slate tablets (7”<11”), which used to be popular at one point, have begun to suffer from decreasing sales because they cannot offer the same level of practicality that phablets provide.

Aside from slate tablets, detachable tablets have also not caught on well in the Philippine market. Filipino end users find the relatively low specs but high price of detachables unappealing and opt for laptops within the same price range, which provide better overall utility.

PCs – Thriving in a Smartphone-Driven Country

The Philippines is among the few remaining bright spots for traditional PCs in Asia/Pacific. Looking closer, it is the only one in Southeast Asia that still shows PC adoption growth. Over the past five years, the Philippine PC market has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%, while its ASEAN neighbors have been declining at CAGRs of around -3% to -12%. The Philippines’ growth trend has been driven primarily by the country's slow technology adoption, but in the past few years, the mobility trend and large millennial Filipino population are also propelling traditional PC adoption to even higher levels.

"Despite smartphones having drawn away a portion of consumer demand in recent years, desktop and notebook PCs remain viable personal computing devices, especially for heavy workloads and higher-level entertainment," said Sean Paul Agapito, Associate Market Analyst, Client Devices, IDC Philippines. While the growing on-the-go culture has fueled the PC-versus-smartphone trend among Filipino consumers, it has also influenced form factor trends within the PC domain. Laptops have already overtaken desktops as the traditional PC of choice among consumers, with the latter increasingly being relegated to commercial and gaming uses.

What to expect in 2018?

The smartphone market in the Philippines is expected to rebound in 2018 as competition between popular brands, which will continue to strengthen their positions, and local and minor brands, which will continue to struggle to stay relevant, intensifies. "We expect smartphone vendors to continue shipping in more phablets and equipping their new models with enticing features, such as dual cameras, thin bezels, and on-device artificial intelligence,” Ooi said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine PC market is expected to grow in the coming years to be driven by the hype and popularity of PC gaming and esports, growing momentum of telecommuting, and shift toward digital learning/education. "As the Philippine economy matures, Internet services and coverage improve, and more Filipinos realize the potential of the Internet beyond social interaction – such as for education, work, and business among others – demand for PCs in the country is expected to grow even further," Agapito said.

For more information about the research, please contact Jensen Ooi at jooi@idc.comand Sean Paul Agapito at sagapito@idc.com.  For media inquiries, please contact Jubert Alberto at jalberto@idc.com or Rushanthine at rvelayutham@idc.com

-Ends-
 
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About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,100 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC.

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Vivo V9 AI-powered FullView Display Unvailed in the Philippines

Aside from the launch of the new flagship smartphone V9,Vivo also introduced its newest endorsers, Ivan Dorschner and Edward Barber. 

Global smartphone brand Vivo has revealed its all-new sleek and stylish V9 flagship unit at the City of Dreams Manila in a summer-themed unveiling that was attended by over 200 members of the press and other guests. 

Vivo welcomed its guests late Thursday afternoon at the Wave, a contemporary poolside deck, restaurant, and bar so they can experience the V9 and take selfies and photos with the sunset as their backdrop. Vivo then picked one lucky and creative photo posted on Instagram to win a V9 unit.

The program continued at the City of Dreams Grand Ballroom with Myx VJ Ai dela Cruz as the host. They were formally welcomed by Vivo Brand Director Annie Lim who recapped the smartphone company’s feats in the Philippines. Since it entered the Philippine market in 2016, Vivo has been steadily rising to become the country’s top three brand with over 5,200 stores and 1.5 million users nationwide.

Vivo’s Jomari Morales followed Lim's remarks by presenting all the goods on the V9. She highlighted the Vivo V9’s 90% screen-to-body ratio, the 24-megapixel selfie camera and 16MP+5MP dual read camera, and the AI-powered photography for a “perfect view” and a “perfect shot.”

Morales also presented the Vivo V9’s improved game mode that would enable users to take calls or open other apps without pausing the gaming applications or play without any interruptions.

After her presentation, Vivo’s Junior Brand Manager Christian Jocson revealed that anyone can enjoy a V9 for a “perfect” price of Php17,990 with pre-orders beginning on March 26 until April 2.

Lim, Morales, Jocson, and Xian Gana from Vivo then answered the media’s questions during the Q&A. Their exchanges were focused on the Vivo’s plans in the Philippines and the V9's capabilities.

Vivo partners, Ayala Malls and SM Supermalls, were also recognized during the event during the ceremonial exchange of tokens. Lim handed the malls' representatives with a Little V doll. 

Vivo executives led by Brand Director Annie Lim answered some of the questions of the media during the V9 press launch.

Fresh faces of Vivo  

Vivo also welcomed its newest endorsers, up-and-coming actors Edward Barber and Ivan Dorschner.

Barber is the onscreen partner of young actress Maymay Entrata who also joined the event. Entrata was the first who joined Vivo in September 2017 during the launch of the V7+. His endorsement deal with Vivo is something MayWard fans have been patiently waiting for since the pair already worked together for the smartphone brand during their first Making Mega shoot in Germany last year. 

Dorschner, meanwhile, charmed the press with his good looks and charisma. He was one of Kuya’s guests in Pinoy Big Brother in 2010. Since then, he became one of GMA Network's top leading men after starring alongside young actress and fellow Vivo endorser Barbie Forteza in the primetime series "Meant To Be."

Barber, Entrata, and Dorschner also picked three lucky winners of the Vivo V9 during the raffle. They also joined the Vivo executives for a toast for the V9. Also with them onstage were other Vivo endorsers young pop soul singer Sassa Dagdag, acoustic singer-songwriter TJ Monterde, and balladeer Jason James Dy who closed the night with their performances.

About Vivo

A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. 

Experience LG's OLED Technology in their Smartphone V30+

You’ve seen the incredible colors and contrast of LG’s best-in-class OLED technology on its flagship TV lineup. Now, with more and more content consumption being done on mobile devices, and the rise of display standards like HDR on smartphones, LG has brought its OLED panels to mobile with the LG V30+.

The centerpiece of the LG V30+ is a massive 6.0-inch OLED FullVision with an elegant bezel-less design. It features all the deep blacks and vivid colors for which LG’s OLED panels are well known, as well as a crisp 2880 x 1440 resolution that showcases eye-popping detail in any content. The display also supports the HDR10 and Dolby Vision standards, which allow it to show a wider range of brightness and contrast levels and color depth than ever before in supported high dynamic range content.

A good display needs good content, and with the LG V30+’s high-end camera system, you can capture your own moments in incredible detail. The dual camera features a huge f/1.6 aperture to let in more light than other smartphone cameras. It also has both standard-angle and wide-angle cameras that allow you capture a greater field of view as you see fit. And with LG’s Cine Video mode, mobile videography takes on a whole new level of cinematic detail – a perfect companion for the OLED display.

Aside from its best-in-class display, the LG V30+ also features all the hallmarks of a modern flagship smartphone, including the top-tier Snapdragon 835 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64 or 128GB of onboard storage, and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. It also comes with a plethora of secure unlock options, including Face Recognition, Voice Recognition, Fingerprint Sensor, and Knock Code.
With the launch of the LG V30+, LG’s world-class OLED technology levels up your viewing experience right in the palm of your hand.


*This is Press Release