The French bought more Groupe Speciale Mobile telephones in the first four months of 1994 than in the whole of 1993, reports GfK France Marketing Services. Better network coverage, a 60% drop in prices, and increased sales at consumer outlets, all contributed to sales of 60,000 units from February to May 1994, compared with a total of 52,000 in 1993. But where users buy their phones is changing. In April and May, consumer outlets saw their share rise from 18% in February and March, to 47%. Superstores Carrefour and Auchan conducted promotional campaigns at that time. Not suprisingly, specialists’ market share was down to 53% in April and May. Now, each of the four types of distributor – superstores, electronic stores, mobile phone specialists and car radio specialists – have quarter of the market. This will remain static for the near future but the report says that the long-term future is harder to forecast, given the arrival next month of a third operator.
