- Massive potential for retailers to target people who want a simple-to-use interface without compromising on premium smartphone features and brand
- Increased opportunity for retailers and carriers to drive footfall into stores by addressing relatively untapped customer demographic
Basingstoke, 10 October 2018 — Tech Data (Nasdaq: TECD) has formed a partnership with Zone V to take the developer’s innovative overlay interface for Samsung Galaxy devices to market. Tech Data is targeting the over-50s market, which remains relatively untapped with more than six million adults in this age bracket yet to own a smartphone*1.
Zone V provides a clear and simple overlay for smartphones with large text and a simplified user interface, whilst still providing access to all core features and functions. It colour-codes each application and splits the screen into easily defined zones. Vibration feedback tells users when they have successfully pressed an icon or character. The overlay works with any Samsung Galaxy device and makes use of Samsung KNOX security to ensure all data is safe and provide centralised management.
David Brassington, Business Unit Director, Mobile and CE Endpoint Solutions, sees vast potential for Zone V. “Research tells us that 46 per cent of people in the over-50s age group find smartphones difficult to use*1. Zone V removes that barrier and opens up much greater potential with a relatively affluent customer group.”
It also presents an opportunity to drive footfall into high street stores, and to secure additional, SIM-free sales in the after-market, he added. “The over-50s are a relatively untapped customer demographic and Zone V provides a new way for retailers and carriers to attract a completely new group of customers. There is also an opportunity to tap into the second- hand mobile economy, with younger users passing their older devices on to the older generation, who will need SIM-free connections.”
Mike Bowerman, Sales Director of Zone V, said: “The over-50s represent 35 per cent of the UK population*2. That demographic is growing and with it, so is the available market. Incredibly, six million of those people – 30 per cent of all adults over 50 – don’t yet own a smartphone*1. Quite a few more may own one but do not know how to use it properly. The potential is simply enormous.”
Tech Data also sees a developing market for health and well-being applications in both the public and private sectors. Brassington said: “As the health service addresses the enormous challenge of digitisation and the growing demands of an ageing population, there is an urgent need to embrace technology and app-based solutions that can improve monitoring and drive efficiency. We are already talking to one partner about a significant opportunity in the health sector.”
The Zone V overlay is available for customers to download via Tech Data now. In addition, Tech Data will also offer a range of Samsung smartphones pre-installed with the Zone V software prior to shipping. This will enable retail and reseller partners to make the Samsung devices bundled with Zone V available as a unique product line.
Picture: David Brassington, Tech Data.
*Sources:
1 – Populus independent survey. Commissioned August 2017
2 – Worldbank.org