Pune-based Calyx Telecoms to market ZTE smartphones, tabs in India

KOLKATA: The Indian arm of China's ZTE will partner with Pune-based Calyx Telecoms to market smartphones and tablets PCs in the country.

ZTE India will price smartphones in the range of Rs 5,799 and Rs 14,999, while it is yet to finalise the pricing of its tablets. Both products will be available in all key states by October end, the company said in a statement issued Friday.

Under terms of the partnership, ZTE India will handle post-sales services while Calyx will be responsible for distribution, sales and marketing.

ZTE's smartphones business has been a global moneyspinner that has augmented its cash flows and enhanced brand value at a time network infrastructure gear and feature phone sales have shrunk across world markets.

ZTE India's chief executive Xu Dejun claimed the partnership with Calyx would help "strengthen its position" in a local handset market dominated by Samsung, Nokia, Sony, Apple and BlackBerry in volume terms.

"Backed by Calyx's strong distribution channels, we expect to strengthen our position in India, which is a key growth propeller for us, contributing up to 10% of overall revenues," said Dejun.

The first wave of ZTE smartphones and tablets will be shipped into India from its factories in China, but in the near future the company plans to manufacture them locally. "We look forward to manufacturing the smartphones and tablets at our Gurgaon factory in future," said Dejun.

Calyx Telecoms executive director Gaurav Somani said the company is "broadening its distribution network" to market ZTE's product portfolio initially in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. "We are targeting 60 cities and towns through over 7,000 touch points."