Emerging markets have doubtless been a huge target for major mobile manufacturers, as companies do what they can to both provide devices and convince potential customers of their necessity. India is one of those markets, and one that is growing at a rapid rate.
Now, according to a press release from the company, ZTE is looking to expand its presence in the country by starting to sell smartphones directly to consumers for the first time. The China-based company struck a deal with Calyx Telecommunications, which will be responsible for handling all marketing and sales throughout India. As part of the deal, it will be ZTE that is responsible for any services related to the devices and post-sale issues.
To start, five smartphones will be introduced, all of which are fairly budget-friendly. The retail costs of the phones will range from $105 to $270, with no carrier contract discounts. When distribution of these new phones begin, ZTE will be targeting five major states within the country: Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.
India already accounts for ten percent of ZTE’s smartphones sales; the company is hoping to sell at least one million devices in the first year, which would boost it as the third biggest mobile provider in the region.
Currently, feature phones are the top sellers in the area, but demand for smartphones is growing exponentially, particularly as affordable options increase. Last year, smartphone sales increased by an astounding 75 percent.
In the least, it’ll be interesting to see if ZTE can make an impact on this ever-fluctuating market.
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