Comments
Home-grown handset-maker Lava International will invest approximately ₹150 crore over the next two years on development of user-interface and proprietary hardware and software.
The investment will also cover the setting of a manufacturing facility over this period. Currently they carry assembling functions out of the Noida-facility.
It is also on the lookout for places to set up its own manufacturing unit. Investments would be through internal accruals.
Delhi–headquartered Lava currently has two brands – a mass market eponymous brand and premium offerings (only smart-phones) under Xolo. It is amongst the top five (handset) vendors in the country and is looking at a turnover of ₹6,000 crore by the end of this fiscal. The Xolo brand is expected to contribute a third, or ₹2,000 crore of this. According to Vishal Sehgal, Co-Founder and Director, Lava, apart from the “on-line only strategy”, the company will also look to work on its new software platform “Hive”.
Proprietary software Hive is Xolo’s proprietary software which is built on Google’s Android OS. It is a first of its type that allows users to participate, share real-time feedback and new feature ideas with other Hive users.
“Hive will be developed as the company’s proprietary user-interface. We will be spending well over ₹150 crore that include development of the UI, hardware and software in the next three years,” he told BusinessLine .
In future, Lava would look to add downloadable content – such as wallpapers, themes and even games – to its own software app (called Edge under Hive).
Incidentally, Chinese handset major Xiaomi follows a similar model in its home country where it not only sells handsets online; but, also addresses customers through its own software, services and entertainment offerings.
Online-only brand The home-grown handset maker is also firming up plans for the launch of a Xolo sub-brand for exclusive online sales, through its own portal.
Interestingly, Lava will be the second Indian vendor after Micromax (through its Yu brand) to have such an online-only sub-brand. Sehgal, however, did not mention the name of the sub-brand or the possible time frame for the launch.
Lava's e-commerce site will also provide customer support services such as remote diagnostic of the device, he said. This would be a premium or rather niche service.
Comments
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.