RCom partners Lenovo for GSM-plus-CDMA phone

Mobile users will now be able to switch between GSM and CDMA services using the same phone.

Reliance Communications has partnered with Chinese computing major Lenovo to launch a new smartphone that automatically switches between technologies depending on signal strength.

So if a subscriber gets a call on the GSM number in an area where the signals are weak then the phone will switch the call to RCom’s CDMA network. The phone has dual SIM slots, one for GSM and the other for CDMA. While the CDMA connection will be locked to RCom’s network, the operator may allow the subscriber to use another operator’s GSM connection on the same phone in the future. But as of now both the connections have to be from RCom. The Reliance-Lenovo co-branded device will be launched in March and is expected to be priced below Rs 8,000.

“This is first kind of partnership which enables RCom to utilise the strengths of being a dual technology player,” said Gurdeep Singh, CEO, RCom. The operator also announced a data plan under the “All Share” category where customers can pool their data into one account and use multiple devices across smartphones and tablets.

The Reliance Lenovo co-branded smartphones will operate on the latest Android operating system with a dual core 1 GHz processor.

“India’s smartphone market is booming and predicted to grow even faster in the coming years. We expect CDMA / GSM to drive market expansion both in terms of volume and in terms of technology and service innovation,” said Liu Jun, Senior Vice-President, Lenovo Group, President, Lenovo Business Group.

Thomas.thomas@thehindu.co.in