Two Indian companies have announced plans to enter the country’s fast-growing mobile handset market by launching low-cost devices.
According to India’s Economic Times, the electronics and home appliances company Orpat is launching two new GSM handsets based on NXP Semiconductors’ chips. It will promote the devices at its 50,000 retail outlets and is targeting sales of 2 million units this year.
Meanwhile, The Times of India reports that the Calcutta-based computer and motorcycle manufacturer Xenitis Group has created a new unit called Xenitis Telecommunications that will also launch entry-level handsets priced as low as Rs499 (around $12). Xenitis’ Santanu Ghosh said the company was looking at a number of options — including selling the devices under its own brand, acting as an OEM for other vendors, or selling the device in partnership with carriers. He added that the company has already received orders for around 160,000 handsets from operators and manufacturers…