RCom partners Lenovo to launch sub-Rs 8,000 smartphone

NEW DELHI: Reliance Communications (RCom) today partnered with technology giant Lenovo to launch a GSM-CDMA smartphone priced below Rs 8,000 and said it will introduce more smart devices in the next few months.

The handset, which will be available in March, will be distributed through 2,500 Reliance stores and 1,000 company stores of Lenovo.

"This is an important step in redefining India's CDMA device ecosystem. In the next six months, we plan to launch 4-5 more smartphones and tablets, which will be priced attractively to have a full bouquet of smart devices," RCom President and CEO (Wireless Business) Gurdeep Singh told reporters here.

RCom will also offer special data plans with these devices, he added.

The Reliance Lenovo co-branded smart-phones will operate on Android operating system with a dual-core 1 GHz processor.

"The device announced today is in line with our endeavour to develop the CDMA device ecosystem, offering consumers speed and coverage," Singh said.

RCom offers both GSM and CDMA telephony services in the country.

"India's smartphone market is booming and predicted to grow even faster in the coming years. Lenovo's partnership with Reliance creates strong synergies that leverage the unique strengths of Reliance and Lenovo," Lenovo Group SVP and President (LBG) Liu Jun said.

The Chinese firm is betting big on the smartphone segment as sales gain traction across emerging markets.

Announcing its results for the October-December 2012-13 quarter yesterday, Lenovo said its smartphone and tablet businesses have delivered "hyper growth" in this quarter.

Lenovo had launched five smartphones in south India and Gujarat in November last year, priced between Rs 6,499 to Rs 28,499.

The company is now looking at expanding sales to west and northern parts of the country and pan-India by June.