Reliance World & Coolpad commence market roll-out
of India’s cheapest touchscreen CDMA phone in
Andhra Pradesh
Coolpad
to launch 15 CDMA phones during this fiscal
Targets
one million CDMA handset sales annually in India
AP
circle to contribute nearly 20% of Coolpad’s CDMA
volumes
Hyderabad|India|May'2010:
Coolpad Communications, the Indian joint-venture of Hong-Kong
listed China Wireless Technologies Limited, has commenced the market
roll-out of India’s cheapest touchscreen CDMA phone, S100, across Andhra
Pradesh. The handset will be distributed as well as retailed through
Reliance World stores.
While Coolpad has already introduced its dual-mode handsets to India, the
S100 is Coolpad’s first CDMA-only handset being introduced in the country.
The company formally entered the Indian market last year through an
exclusive distribution agreement with Reliance Webstore Limited. This is
part of Coolpad’s focus to establish its presence in the Indian CDMA
handset market which accounts for nearly 2 million handset sales every
month.
According to Sami Al-Lawati, Managing Director, Coolpad Communications,
“In the current scenario, we see CDMA subscribers as the key drivers of
mobile data business in India. Feature-rich CDMA handsets will play a
crucial role in addressing this segment. Currently, the operator pushed
CDMA handsets are primarily in the sub-2000 price bracket. Telecom
operators typically bundle talk-time with entry-level handsets as part of
their subscriber acquisition strategy. However, amongst the 120 million
CDMA subscriber base in India, almost 30% use CDMA smartphones. This
captive customer base of CDMA smartphones, as well as the increasing base
of CDMA-users who want more features in their phones, offers Coolpad an
opportunity to address the CDMA segment with the right products, at very
attractive price-points.”
Coolpad will follow a two-pronged strategy to drive its CDMA volumes.
While the Operator-bundled offerings will help Coolpad gain volumes in the
Indian market for its entry-level CDMA phones, an independent distribution
sales drive for unbundled handsets will help Coolpad enhance smartphone
volumes as well as gain necessary hold on margins. Upgrade offers (from a
low-end handsets to smartphones or feature-rich handsets) will be an
important component of the latter strategy.
Coolpad S100 will be offered in the sub-4500 price-point, making it nearly
30% cheaper than similar touchscreen phones in the market. Coolpad plans
to launch over 15 CDMA handset models in India during the current fiscal.
The high-end handsets will be dual-mode (CDMA/GSM, while single-mode CDMA
handsets will be in sub-5000 price range. Following the launch of these 15
CDMA handsets, Coolpad is targeting one million annual handset sales in
India. Andhra Pradesh is expected to contribute nearly 20% of these
volumes. Coolpad will extensively leverage its distribution partnership
with Reliance Webstore to drive these volumes in the market.
Commenting on the market roll-out, M. Suresh, Circle Head – Andhra
Pradesh,
Reliance Webstore Limited, said, “In Andhra Pradesh, Reliance Webstore
will market Coolpad CDMA handsets, including the newly introduced S100,
across 42 towns in the state. We expect a substantial growth in the
overall handset volumes sold in Andhra Pradesh through Reliance World and
Reliance Mobile Stores over the next two to three quarters.”
Coolpad’s exclusive distribution tie-up with Reliance Webstore was signed
in October 2009.
This marked Coolpad’s formal entry into in the Indian handset market--its
first foray outside China. The distribution tie-up with Reliance Webstore
offers Coolpad direct market access across 700 Indian cities.
-May'
2010
