Huawei to Launch Sub-Rs. 10,000 4G Smartphones Within 6 Months

To cash in on the next generation high-speed mobile data services, Chinese telecom gear maker Huawei on Thursday said it has plans to launch 4G smartphones for less than Rs. 10,000 within six months.

"We are largest owner of essential patents for 4G technology. The essential patents are technology required to connect with 4G network. Within 3-6 months, we have plans to launch 4G handsets below Rs. 10,000," Huawei's Director for Devices Sales P Sanjeev told PTI.

Reliance Jio Infocomm, the only pan-India 4G spectrum holder, has plans to launch its 4G services by mid-2015.

Airtel and Aircel have started 4G services in select areas. BSNL, Tikona and Augere also need to launch their services in 2015.

Huawei said it had filed 12,000 patents till August 2014 for consumer devices and entered into cross patent agreements with leading companies such as Ericsson, Nokia, Microsoft, Alcatel Lucent and Qualcomm.

"The combination of our own patents and arrangement with other companies has helped us in making devices in affordable price range," Sanjeev said.

The company claims to have sold 80,000 units of its Honor Holly (Review | Pictures) model priced at Rs. 6,999 within a month of its launch. The 5-inch screen size smartphone has 16GB of built-in storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 2-megapixle front-facing camera.

"We sell devices which mostly use our patent technologies. Honor series comes up with our patent power saving technology, Quick Power Control, that save 30 percent power. Like, if battery has 3000mAh capacity then with QPC it can provide power back equivalent to that of 4000mAh," Sanjeev said.

He said that company's research and development team in India has contributed to its Emotion UI patent which has feature like turning screen in a glass mirror, learn functions of any remote be it TV, DTH and even car and then operate it from mobile phone.

"The remote control feature is a big contribution of our India team in Emotion UI patent," Sanjeev said.

When asked about recent patent issues where Chinese companies and handsets imported from China have come under cloud, Sanjeev said: "Huawei is one of the largest patent holders. Huawei breaks the stereotype that Chinese brands do not innovate. We come up with industry leading features because of our strong patent legacy. We respect others' IPR and will do everything to protect our right as well."