RCOM and Lenovo to launch CDMA+GSM smartphones in India

This range of smartphones will be spread across various screen sizes and come with dual-core 1GHz processor. The initial set of smartphones will run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).

RCOM is claiming that these devices will Reliance 'Dual Core' network advantage that switch calls between the two networks automatically based on the strength and quality of RF signals. However, for now the switching can happen only if the subscriber is using the RCOM's CDMA and GSM SIM.

This product range will be available across Reliance stores and Lenovo company stores. RCOM is also planning to offer some freebies along with these smartphones but will share the details of the same closer to the launch.

Announcing this partnership, Gurdeep Singh, President and CEO - Wireless Business, Reliance Communications Limited said, "We are happy to announce our partnership with Lenovo to offer the most innovative dual technology smart-phones in the country. In line with our endeavour to develop the CDMA device ecosystem, the co-branded smart-phones are set to offer a superlative customer experience in terms of device, speed and coverage on our high speed data network offering the widest footprint across the country. We are confident that the unmet demand of an innovative CDMA smart-phone with exciting features at an attractive price point bundled with our most innovative "All Share" plans will fulfil the demand of every customer on our superior network."

"The Indian smart-phone market represents solid growth opportunities where CDMA / GSM smart-phone penetration is still low. The consumer response to our smart-phones in these few months has been very encouraging. Having made strong inroads owing to our innovative product offering, we saw a great synergy with Reliance Communications to provide cutting edge phones for our consumers as a next step to penetrate the market further. With this partnership, we aim to replicate our China success and gain market share in the booming smart-phone market in India," said Liu Jun, President, Lenovo Business Group.

On the occasion RCOM also shared that they would be looking at migrating their voice-only CDMA subscribers to these smartphone through various attractive plans.

Even in the past companies including RCOM have launched locked devices in India but none of them has been very popular. Singh however feels that value proposition in India has always worked and is confident that this will help people to remain hooked on the CDMA ecosystem.

RCOM is also planning to launch a new CDMA tablet in collaboration with Lenovo. This Android tablet too will come with Reliance 'Dual Core' network advantage. However, the company has not shared by when this tablet will be available or what will be its price.