Alcatel Eyes Comeback in the Indian Smartphone Market

TCL Communications, the company that makes and markets Alcatel One Touch mobiles has been actively launching smartphone and tablets at global events such as CES and MWC under Alcatel One Touch brand. However, until recently, there was was very little activity in the Indian market.

The company, which has incorporated itself in India under the Alcatel One Touch moniker plans to launch 14 smartphones, 2 tablets and data cards in the country this year.

Praveen Valecha, Regional Director, APAC, Alcatel One Touch was talking to NDTV Gadgets on the sidelines of the launch of Alcatel One Touch Idol X+.

Some of the smartphones expected to launch this year in India include the Alcatel One Touch Hero, One Touch Idol X, One Touch Idol S, One Touch Idol Mini, One Touch Pop C3, and One Touch Pop C5 - all of which have been already launched outside India. The two tablets expected to debut in India are Alcatel One Touch Pop 7 and One Touch 8, both have already been unveiled at CES this year.

While Valecha declined to give further details about the launch of other Alcatel smartphones, he did reveal that the company will be following a retail-focused strategy for its upcoming Alcatel One Touch devices and will be creating experience zones for consumers, similar to what Samsung has done in the past.

"For the Indian market we will be following retail-focused strategy where we will try to create a point of experience for our devices across India," said Valecha. "We will be investing in retail and will be creating a zone under our retail shops, where consumers can walk-in to experience an Alcatel device."

Earlier this week, the company launched the One Touch Idol X+ in India, priced at Rs. 16,999. The company is bundling a Boomband and JBL headphones in the box. The phone will be exclusively available via Flipkart from June 3.