PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
<!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> Mobile phone distributors have said that they are hopeful that IT retailers and resellers can help fill the void left by independent mobile phone dealers, which according to figures numbers of which have fallen by 30 per cent over the past 12 months.
The figures, compiled by trade magazine Mobile Today using information from major mobile distributors and the Independent Mobile Phone Dealers Association, showed the number of retailers and resellers active in the telecoms sector had dropped from around 1,200 to 1,000 during the period.
Many of the failures have been put down to a high focus on increasingly diminishing connections, with many thought to be on the consumer and call centre side of the sector.
According to insiders speaking to the magazine, many of the reasons behind failures were due to the networks improving their High Street footprint, them becoming better at retaining customers and the strengthening of national chains such as Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U and DSGi-owned The Link.
Speaking to the magazine, Chris Caudle from the IMPDA said: "Certainly the days of dealing solely in mobile are over, but dealers are still very important – if every independent went out of business then networks would be in trouble."
The figures come after key several figures from the telecoms channel said that they were looking to up their presence among IT retailers and resellers, such as Orange and Fone Logistics.
