After challenging the likes of Samsung and Sony in the Android smartphone segment, it looks like Indian handset brand, Micromax, is planning to get into the Windows Phone territory, which is currently ruled by Finnish handset giant, Nokia. There is also news of Micromax looking to launch a 4G-enabled device, interestingly timed with
reports of Xolo also planning a launch of a similar device.
Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma informed that the company plans to bring its first Windows Phone devices to the market by mid of next year, in an
interview with Economic Times.
It's worth pointing out that Nokia has totally invested in the Windows Phone ecosystem with a large number of exclusive apps and services. In fact, Nokia's all set to be acquired by Microsoft, once the acquisition deal signed by Nokia and Microsoft is closed. While Micromax would most likely try to play the price game, it would face stiff competition from Nokia in the Windows Phone segment.
Sharma also talked about LTE (4G) ready products and said that Micromax will start offering 4G-capable devices by December. "We want to establish ourselves on LTE and offer products that are LTE ready by December, so that consumers would not need to change their handsets whenever voice over LTE becomes available, be it six months or eight months later," said Sharma.
Earlier on Monday, as mentioned above,
we witnessed a leaked press render of a new 4G-enabled smartphone, LT900, from Indian smartphone brand, Xolo, which is rumoured to be launched in November.
As new 4G deployments begin, and old ones expand to other cities, we can expect to see more 4G devices related announcements. At present, only Airtel offers 4G services in select cities through data cards and modems, while Reliance Industries is set to launch its own pan-India 4G service under the Jio brand.
Micromax is also expanding its operations by launching in Russia in December, and is also exploring Pakistan, according to Sharma. He also claimed that the company was among the top 3 players by overall sales, in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.