Apple needs to do more than revamp its iPhone to maintain a leading status on the smartphone market, according to the global independent analyst firm Ovum.

Ovum predicts Apple’s new iPhone, the iPhone 5, will be the company’s most successful smartphone. But without redesigning its mobile operating system iOS and the underlying software platform within the next two years, Ovum predicts Apple will be in a similar position to Nokia and RIM, both confronted with outdated smartphone platforms.

“It has become clear that technology companies need to do more than just announce new versions and updates to existing offerings if they are set on owning every aspect of the consumer’s digital existence,” said Adam Leach, leader of Ovum’s Devices and Platforms Practice, in a news release.

According to Thomas Hundt, CEO of Smart mobile, Apple’s iPhone is popular among Cambodians. He said many people are using iPhones and that will continue with the iPhone 5.

But he said Android smartphones have so far taken the lead in the country’s market. “All Android phones, they have a higher market share than the iPhone in Cambodia,” he said, adding that he does not refer to high end Android phones.

Hundt said Android phones offer a broader choice and some entry Android smartphones can be bought for US$100. As Cambodians do not have the same purchase power as people in the US, “it is limiting the ability to buy smartphones”, he said.

Neup Chanthavy, general manager of K-four, an electronics store, said although some customers have already asked for the new iPhone, they will not sell it from the very beginning. “We really want to know the quality first,” he said, adding that they don’t know yet if it is really better than the iPhone 4S.

He said right now, they sell about two or three Samsung SIII per day, compared to only one iPhone 4S per week.

To contact the reporter on this story: Anna Renzenbrink at [email protected]