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(Image: S.Aadeetya) 
 
Affordability has truly become the motto of every sphere industry in India and off late things are just getting started. With net neutrality and free Internet being talked up, in the end, users will benefit from changing dynamics of Internet sphere. Besides, the consumers will also get the right kind of products which augurs well for the growth of the sector. ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ are some of the initiatives that get attached in this respect and major interest from brands across the globe have been registered. 
 
While Lenovo has the cheapest 4G phone in the country for shade above $100, others are merely looking to consolidate the position of 2G/3G ecosystem for the time being. And you can count on Datawind to be part of the 'others' in this aspect. 
 
The makers of cheap yet controversial Aakash (Ubislate) tablets are now ready to enthrall consumers with affordable phones equipped with free Internet support. Teaming up with Reliance, Datawind has announced slew of PocketSurfer 2G and 3G phones starting from Rs 1,999. The phones are nowhere close to competition in terms of hardware, so we won't be talking about them in detail. Let's just say, these phones are entry-level, made for lower-rung cities who might get captivated by the prospect of free Internet. 
 
Free Internet with catch 
Datawind is relying on Reliance to provide the arms to its dream of 'free Internet' that assembles as part of ‘Digital India’ mission. The internet.org was also inducted into the market with the same telecom operator. Suneet Singh Tuli, president and CEO for DataWind, has confirmed that talks with other telcos have also taken place; those other telcos are nowhere to be seen in the scheme of free things. 
 
Under the one-year free Internet plan, Datawind will be paying up for all data consumption made during this period. But what happens when the one year of your quota is over? Well, we are yet to find an answer to that. 
 
Two-thronged sellers 
Datawind might have played the smart game by going for dual-approach for selling its PocketSurfer smartphones. Not only are they counting on the online shopping boom in the country by teaming up with Naaptol, but there’s the traditional seller element to their strategy which has borne out of their decision to partner with likes of Spice Hotspot and other notable offline sellers. Datawind has primarily made its numbers by selling in the other cities of India, which is why their means of selling the phone, both online as well offline, could deliver good results. 
 
‘Making in India’ on the agenda 
In addition to the announcement of the free-Internet project, Tuli managed to get everyone’s attention by stating the prospect of setting up its production unit in the country over the next 90 days. “We hope to generate 1,000 new direct &amp; indirect jobs in India within the next year as we work with electronics manufacturing services companies in India,” Tuli said at the launch event. The plight of Internet penetration in the country is a well-documented subject by now, but it’s fascinating to see the methodology of brands like Datawind to promote their products merely by advocating for the government projects that are yet to gather steam. 
 
It’s a noble initiative on Datawind and Reliance’s part but turning dreams into reality takes more than just promise and that’s where both the brands will have their hands-full over the course of the year. They just have to make sure it doesn’t end up being another ‘Aakash’ saga.

If expensive data plans kept you away from mobile Internet, then this
Datawind phone worth Rs 1,999 is for you

Domestic handset maker <keyword id="6428840" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ringing-Bells">Ringing Bells</keyword> will launch India's most affordable smartphone for under Rs 500 later this week, a move that is set to disrupt the booming handset market in the country. The launch is in line with Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>'s vision for "empowering India to the last person, transforming India's growth story", the Noida-based company said. Defence Minister <keyword id="6363133" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manohar-Parrikar">Manohar Parrikar</keyword> will launch the smartphone 'Freedom 251' on February 17. 

	"The phone will be popularly priced at under Rs 500... this event and launch stands as a true testimony of success of the latest initiatives taken by the Government of India," according to a media invite sent by the firm.
 At present, smartphones available in the market are priced around Rs 1,500. Last year, <keyword id="794041" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Datawind">DataWind</keyword> had announced that it is teaming up with Anil Ambani-owned <keyword id="46907" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reliance-communications">Reliance Communications</keyword> (RCOM) to launch the world's most affordable smartphone, priced at Rs 999. The phone is yet to hit the market. 

	Established last year, Ringing Bells will start with the assembly of handsets in Phase-I and aims at full indigenous development of the feature-rich smartphones, it said.
 

	It did not disclose any other details about manufacturing, products and pricing.
 A new entrant in the Indian mobile phone market, Ringing Bells had launched one of India's cheapest <keyword id="818919" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="4G-smartphone">4G smartphone</keyword> at Rs 2,999, recently. It has launched two other feature phones in the market. 

	India, one of the fastest growing smartphone markets globally, is poised to overtake the US as the second-largest market in next few years.
 In the last few months, global smartphone makers, including the likes of <keyword id="874458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xiaomi">Xiaomi</keyword>, <keyword id="11148" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Motorola">Motorola</keyword> and <keyword id="1188106" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gionee">Gionee</keyword> have commenced assembling their handsets in India, where the government is pushing local manufacturing through its Make in India initiative.

India to get its cheapest smartphone soon, Noida company says it costs even less than Rs 500!

At a time when the big companies are announcing the launch of their <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=4G+phones">4G phones</a> at super competitive prices eyeing a greater market share, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Datawind+">Datawind </a>is taking the road less travelled. It is all set to give the country its cheapest 4G handset at an astonishing price of Rs. 3,000 only. What’s more, it’ll throw in free Internet browsing for 12 months to top it all! 
 
The catch here is that one can’t watch videos or download content for free. “You’ve to subscribe to a regular 4G plan for that. This raises questions of net neutrality,” said <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Datawind+">Datawind</a> CEO <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Suneet+Singh+Tuli">Suneet Singh Tuli</a>. He, however, dismissed the possibility saying the company would not discriminate among websites. 
 
According to him, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Datawind+">DataWind</a>’s plan is actually pro-net neutrality as buyers can access any website without paying data charges for browsing. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Datawind+">Datawind </a>is currently in active talks with telcos for its device. The company already has partnerships with Reliance Communications and Telenor for the free 2G and 3G Internet browsing. 
 
At a jaw dropping price tag of Rs. 3,000 only, the 4G device is expected to be the cheapest 4G handset in India. Currently, the least costly 4G handsets are available at around Rs. 4,000. 
 
When asked how the company plans to monetize, Tuli said it’ll be making money through advertisements. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

DataWind
to give India its cheapest 4G Smartphone at a mere Rs. 3000!

Low-cost smartphone has been the dream of many, but offering quality phones at low cost value is hard to deliver. Add to that, if you really want to tap into the vast consumer base of India, you need to add more value by complimenting your offering with freebies. The sum total of all this will be a device that is almost impossible to put down. Guess, these issues will soon be things of past as Datawind, more popularly known for the manufacturer of Aakash tablet, is all set to turn this dream into reality. 
 
The devices manufacturer is finally set to unleash its ultra-affordable smartphone in the country with the add-on attraction of free Internet (for 12 months). The phone will be launched under the branding of Pocket Surfer, says Suneet Singh Tuli, founder and CEO at Datawind. “It has been our endeavor to break the price barrier with respect to technology and after building Ubislate (or Aakash) tablets, we’ll be doing the same with Pocket Surfer for smartphone. 
 
Asked about the ploy behind offering free Internet access for first 12 months, Tuli reiterated his committement to ‘ bring down the cost of hardware (devices) and internet’, so that everyone can access services of all forms without worrying about high cost. 
 
So, how soon can we expect the Datawind Pocket Surfer in India, we asked Tuli and obliging back, he said, “We are in the process of announcing major deal with a national operator (telecom) and expect to close out the agreement in few weeks time. And from there on, we’ll be rolling out the product for end consumer before end of this month i.e. February.” 
 
The prospect of free Internet sounds attractive, but the company would end up losing on the monetary front. And for that, they will make sure value-added-services come in handy. “During the free Internet period, users can check mail, surf the web i.e. Facebook, WhatsApp etc. without any added cost. However, for using audio or video services, you will have to pay extra and this is where Datawind is looking to make things even, ” Tuli states. 
 
Tuli might be starting off with 12-month free internet offer, but ultimately he wants to give lifetime free Internet plans that let everyone access world-wide-web (www) at zero cost. The company is slated to hold special briefing for its product later this month in the country and we’ll be there to give you the latest happening.

Soon you can buy Smartphone with free Internet for Rs 2000

India is a country where people find everything from the world’s cheapest car to an inexpensive tablet. The car has no new innovations to show (at least for now), however the reasonably priced tablet maker <keyword id="794041" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Datawind">Datawind</keyword> is developing cloud based applications and solutions for their <keyword id="6361927" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tablets">tablets</keyword> in India. 
 The company has entered into an alliance with <keyword id="611194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Happiest-Minds">Happiest Minds</keyword>, who are an IT solutions and services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. Together the two will research and develop cloud based apps, which will be exclusive to Datawind tablets. 
 Together the companies also want to look at mobility solutions for healthcare and education sector of India. At the moment the equipments in the healthcare segment are on the costlier side. If this alliance manages to produce a low-cost solution for the health sector, like Datawind did for education segment with <keyword id="6380190" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aakash">Aakash</keyword> tablets, then it will be an excellent opportunity for the government to again go with their solutions for government hospitals and dispensaries. 
 But first, the companies are focusing on building the Datawind App store that will be aimed at first time <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> users and will be available on all Datawind tablets.

The World Cheapest Tablet Maker Will Soon Give Cloud Based
Apps On Their Devices

As <keyword id="1560234" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="hardware-components">hardware components</keyword> are becoming cheaper day-by-day in India, experts believe that software sales will play an important role in the growing <keyword id="28168" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Smartphone">smartphone</keyword> market in the country. 
 
Earlier, device makers were looking to make money on the hardware they sell. But as there is a fall in margins, vendors are seeing opportunities to help raise the bottom line with software and content distribution deals. 
 "We don't yet lose money on the hardware," said Suneet Singh Tuli, the CEO of <keyword id="2453818" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="low-cost-tablet-maker">low-cost tablet maker</keyword> Datawind. The firm is chasing recurring revenue sources through software partnerships and content deals. 
 
"Five years down the line, it is reasonable to expect half our revenues from the recurring stream," he added. 
 The average selling price of a smartphone in India is already amongst the lowest in the world. Market experts believe that the prices are expected to drop further as low-cost vendors push Google's $100 (Rs 6,000) <keyword id="2453819" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Android-One-phones">Android One phones</keyword> this year in a major way. 
 Homegrown handset manufacturer Karbonn sells over 650,000 smart devices every month. It makes about 6-7% of the revenues from value-added services. It pre-installs software and apps like Opera's browser, <keyword id="790242" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="WhatsApp">WhatsApp</keyword>, Amazon, <keyword id="1106616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="TrueCaller">Truecaller</keyword> and CleanMaster. 
 
When Google announced the Android One initiative for emerging markets at the I/O conference this year, it said phone vendors would be allowed to bundle third-party applications on to the device. 
 
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi, which entered the Indian market earlier this month, follows a similar strategy. It heavily banks on software sales for profits. 
(Image: Thinkstock)

Software Sales To Play A Major Role In Indian Smartphone Market

<keyword id="71696" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Micromax">Micromax</keyword> is developing its own operating system as a suite of services and apps which will run across its phones, tablets, televisions and wearables, as it goes up the value chain to differentiate itself from increasing competition. Spearheaded by former <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> executive <keyword id="70775" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ashish-Agrawal">Ashish Agrawal</keyword>, who is the new technology head at Micromax, the OS will be a forked Android - a platform developed on <keyword id="6355629" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google">Google</keyword>'s open source mobile OS. The first smartphones with the new OS will be available by the end of this financial year and they will be affordably priced, Micromax cofounder <keyword id="144780" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vikas-Jain">Vikas Jain</keyword> told ET. 

	"We're excellent with partnerships and we don't want to reinvent the wheel," Jain said, while specifying that the company was not breaking away from Android but was working with the globally dominant Android OS to bring a differentiated experience to consumers across all platforms, including wearables.
 Agrawal said the likes of <keyword id="6354427" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Apple">Apple</keyword>, <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> and Xiaomi, which have their own OS across platforms, are translating what they have done internationally to India. In contrast, Micromax is closer to the Indian consumer and therefore has a better understanding of the local market and insights based on which it will build the customer experience. 

	"Our (Indian) use cases are much different from a US or Chinese customer," he said. As hardware is becoming a commodity, Micromax wants to start investing in software to differentiate itself. However, the company did not want to alienate its set of consumers and developers, majority of who are on Android, by building an operating system from the ground up.
 

	The No 2 handset brand in India, which closed fiscal 2015 with Rs 11,000 crore of revenue, sells about 3 million phones a month, two-thirds of which are smartphones, and has a 16.7% share of smartphones and 14.4% share overall devices in the local market as per Counterpoint Research.
 It is No. 3 in the tablet segment with a 9% share for the quarter ended March 2015, according to Cybermedia Research, trailing <keyword id="10591" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Samsung">Samsung</keyword> and Datawind. Jain said Micromax is among the top five players in the Indian television market with an 8% share, selling about 70,000 units a month. Jain said the first 'smart-non-mobile device' from the company stable would hit the retail market by the end of the year. 

	Despite its strong performance in the smartphone and other product segments, the company's future growth would have to come from services built on top of its products to ensure customer stickiness and brand loyalty - a difficult feat given Indian users' discerning and value-for-money profile.
 

	Over past year, Micromax tied up with Cynogen for using its OS on Yu brand of smartphones through a wholly-owned subsidiary. The company has also begun investing in startups that build services which can be integrated into devices - for instance health start up Healthifyme, online travel portal ixigo and US-based consumer cloud provider MiMedia. The services and apps being developed would also extend to the Yu series.
 

	The forked Android OS is being developed by the company's software team in Bengaluru. About 75 people in design teams acquired from Nokia R&amp;D in Beijing and a second one coming up in Shenzen will support this venture, including in building apps ecosystem and partnerships back home.
 

	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

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If expensive data plans kept you away from mobile Internet, then this Datawind phone worth Rs 1,999 is for you

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