Akai enters mobile handset market with 10 models

Japanese consumer electronics brand Akai today announced its entry into the mobile handset market, launching 10 models in the dual SIM category in the world's fastest-growing mobile telephony market.

Priced between Rs1,895 and Rs7,995, the range is expected to appeal to consumers across all segments, with a special focus on the youth, and are being made available across 8,000 retail outlets in the country. The company plans to ramp up the number of retail outlets to 20,000 by end-September, 2010, the company said in New Delhi.

"We are expecting an overall turnover of Rs435 crore by July 2011 and mobile sales are expected to contribute around 40 per cent of the total revenues with targeted monthly sales of one lakh handsets from October onwards," Pranay Dhabhai, managing director, AKAI India, told the media in New Delhi. "We hope to become a prominent player in the Rs700-billion mobile handset market in the coming years," he added.

The handsets have full touch 3-D user interface, social networking sites and e-book compatibility.

Akai re-entered India in January this year through Global Brands Enterprise Solutions after ending its brand licensing agreement with consumer durable major Videocon last year. Its product portfolio includes washing machines, microwave ovens, DVD players, televisions and home theatres.
The company will import the handsets from Akai's factory and from Europe.

Asked about Akai's plans to enter other business verticals, Dhabhai said, "We are looking into other verticals like inverters, netbooks, accessories for mobile phones (and) fixed line wireless phones."