Reference Auto

Micromax had created quite a stir in the Indian handset market two years ago by making phones with high-end features affordable, and in the latest move, it has rolled out an Android-based phone within the common man’s range - the Andro A60 for Rs 8,000 only.

The Andro A60 is loaded with functions such as Wi-Fi, GPS, it’s 3G compatible and has a 600 MHz processor. It has a 2.8-inch touchscreen that supports 320x240 pixel resolution which may not be dubbed as overtly impressive.

But it comes with dual-band GSM support with up to 7.2 Mbps speeds via HSUPA and up to 5.76 speeds through HSDPA. It features a 150 MB internal memory only, which is expandable up to 32 GB via a memory card.

Among other features is a 3.2 megapixel camera which has auto focus. The video is not of a very high quality, something which a buyer needs to ponder about before lapping up the handset.

Also, the 1280 mAh Lithium-Ion battery offers only four hours of talk time. But the Micromax Andro’s biggest USP is its Android operating system and this could make it a contender with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy 5T series.

Micromax is planning to introduce a new line of affordable products, and as a start, it is weighing the option of launching a 3.5-inch touchscreen Android handset along with a seven-inch tablet.

Micromax understood the average Indian’s needs very well and by pulling down prices of high-end phones, which were beyond the reach of the common man, the company has managed to not only shore up its earnings but has also been able create a brand name for itself. Today, it is the third largest handset maker in India and is a name to reckon with.

In March this year, Micromax said it expects a nearly five-fold surge in revenue for the current fiscal year and double of that in the next fiscal as it make inroads into cities and big towns, forays overseas and launches high-end products.

The overwhelming response to its products has prompted the handset maker to target revenues of nearly Rs 3,000 crore next year. Micromax has 10 per cent share in the overall handset market in India and has overtaken LG and Motorola but is behind Samsung and Nokia.

By bringing in affordable phones with a slew of high-end features, Micromax along with other home-grown companies like Lava, Maxx and Karbonn can hope to witness a conservative 50% annual growth in the next three years.

By launching phones like Andro A60 and the Modu T, which it rolled out last month, Micromax is likely to retain its top slot among domestic handset firms and also bring in a substantial amount of anxiety to big players like Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.