Dubai's Cellucom to launch India services

JAIPUR: Dubai-based mobility enabler Cellucom is planning to launch its value-added services & mobile entertainment arm — UClub — in India by the first quarter of the next fiscal. The company is in talks with leading Indian gaming and VAS content providers. “We are in talks with content providers like Indiagames etc for launching the value-added services in India through the wide network of our mobility retail stores, RPG Cellucom,” Cellucom Group founder and managing director Arun Nagar told ET.

“Currently, UClub provides content suitable for Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola mobile phones, with more brands to be supported soon. We would bundle gaming and entertainment content on mobile handsets selling at our stores,”Mr Nagar said. He refused to disclose the quantum of investment.

The mobility distribution major Cellucom is also planning to foray into telecom operations in India. “We are indeed interested in taking a plunge into the world’s fastest growing telecom market. But we would be playing a role of mobile virtual network operator or “switchless resellers” of a leading mobile network operator (MNO) for distribution and retailing,” Mr Nagar said.

The company has linked up with with several key Indian retailers, including Lifestyle, Spencer’s and Music World to open 2,000 stores over the next three years. The arrangement will be to operate outlets within existing stores on a shop-in-a-shop basis.

There will also be 1,000 standalone stores in all major cities. “We expect India to provide 70% of our revenues by the end of this period. Cellucom’s revenues will grow by 20 % in 2007, following an 18 % rise in 2006,” Mr Nagar said.