Big players may queer the pitch for domestic third-party firms

Third-party smartphone case makers may find the going tough as more companies contemplate independent manufacture of stylish, changeable cases, experts said.

Much of the action on the smartphone cases seem to be linked to the special features that mainstream phone makers are banking on to boost market share, like extended battery life and waterproof technologies.

Smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp, often called China's Apple, has been one of the early birds in this field and showcased more than a dozen back case designs during the recent launch of its flagship phone.