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.

Just by claiming it to be the world’s lightest smartphone (at just 60 gm weight and measuring 7.5 cm), can an upcoming company such as Micromax price Modu T at a whopping Rs 12,500?

The smartphone was rolled out by Israeli entrepreneur Dov Moran’s company Modu last week. The Israeli firm has apparently struck a deal with Micromax. The 3.5G Modu T holds the Guinness World Record for being the lightest touch phone in the world.

The value of the deal between the two companies is still unknown and could hinge on the phone’s sales.

The Modu T is a 2.75 generation or a 3.5 generation smartphone with a 2.2 inch touch screen and has Qualcomm’s Brew operating system and a string of Java applications including Snaptu, Facebook, Flickr and media player TuneWiki.

The 2.2-inch touch screen phone is already available in the market with a 2GB memory card. It can be further expanded to 32 GB.

The handset runs on Android version 1.6 but lacks 3G. However, the Israeli firm hopes to introduce 3G technology soon, and now, it depends on Wi-Fi.

The Modu T has two fy devices, jackets, and if connected, adds new features to the phone. The camerafy jacket converts the phone into a camera with a 5 megapixel resolution and LED flash.

Other features of Micromax Modu T smartphone are a GPS and FM radio. It is also possible to sportfy the Modu T phone and turn it into an exercise companion.

A bullish Vikas Jain, business director at Micromax, said, “Innovation has been a driver for Micromax in India and we believe that by bringing the Modu T phone to India, we will cater to the aspirational segment of the Indian consumers who are early adopters of technology and passionate about electronic gadgets.”

Micromax has lined up international growth plans and hopes to roll out five models in Brazil. It is awaiting green light from Anatel, the telecom regulator of that country.

Jain said the company is contemplating launching tablets in the market. “We are exploring the option of bringing in tablets. But it depends on the consumer response after third generation services are rolled out in the market.”

Although Modu T is light and has a standard camera, its battery life is reportedly very low, there are other handsets in the price range that offer more features and thus the pricing could turn out to be a hindrance factor for Micromax, which has otherwise captured a sizable pie of the Indian market because of its astute pricing.