Dell ties up with Croma to launch low-cost notebook PCs in India

Mumbai: Dell India, the Indian unit of the world's second-largest maker of personal computers, Dell Inc, is planning to launch low-cost notebook PCs in the country.

"Dell is developing new models of notebooks catering for the customers in India," Dell India vice president and general manager Rajan Anandan said.

He said the new models, customised to the needs of the Indian consumers, would hit the market by the second week of April.

Round Rock, Texas-based Dell plans to sell notebook PCs through retail outlets in India for the first time after forging a partnership with Tata Group's Croma chain of stores.

"We are developing plans for retail operations," Anandan said without specifying a time.

Dell's laptop and desktop computers will initially be available at some Croma stores in Mumbai next month, the company said in an e-mail.

Dell, which began selling products through Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in June and has since reached agreements in Japan, Europe and China, plans to generate half its sales overseas by 2009.

Dell now also offers its products through Gome Electrical Appliance Holdings Ltd. in China, Carrefour SA in Europe, Bic Camera Inc. in Japan, and Carphone Warehouse Group Plc in the UK.

Dell's India revenue jumped 60 per cent to $700 million last year, outpacing growth in the US, Anandan said.

Dell expects its India sales to climb to almost $1 billion in the year ending February 1, helping Asian growth offset the effects of an expected slowdown in the US.

In India, Dell has so far followed its traditional model of selling computers over the internet or by telephone.

The company is also raising production capacity at its computer-making plant in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu from the current 400,000 units a year.