Sharp launches mobile phones in Indian market

A day after PC maker Dell announced its entry into the mobile handset market with the launch of two smartphones in India (See: PC maker Dell diversifies into 3G compatible mobile handsets), Japanese consumer elctronics giant Sharp Corporation has launched a set of mobile phones in India with an eye on taking advantage of the 3G spectrum about to be introduced into the country.

Sharp claims that its phones are aimed at ''trendy yet price conscious'' consumers, basically the young set. The phones have features like full touch LCD screen, G-Sensor, shortcut to social networking services, LED illumination, Bluetooth, FM radio, dual-SIM facility, and camera.

The phones will be available in a variety of form factors such as the cycloid phone, screens which rotate a full 180 degrees and the classic clamshell.

Takeshi Mori, general manager, Sharp Corporation said, ''A huge amount of research has gone into the making of these handsets. We had to strike a fine balance between what would work with the Indian consumers and how we can offer that extra edge that Sharp brings to its product offerings. Therefore we have compelling features that attract the youth such as full touch LCD screen, G-Sensor, shortcut to social networking services, LED illumination, Bluetooth, FM radio, dual SIM facility, easy camera shot so on and so forth.

All these features are cased in interesting form factors such as the cycloid phone, screens which rotate a full 180 degrees and the classic clamshell which go to showcase the extreme craftsmanship that Sharp has developed over the years. We are confident that the quality of Touch experience provided by our phones will be really loved by progressive Indian consumers.''

At the launch event in Delhi yesterday Sharp unveiled four models namely the Alice, Blink, Tango and Cyborg. The company has however, not elaborated on the features each of these phones would offer have.