Chinese laptop maker Lenovo is all set to launch its range of smartphones in India. The company, which recently emerged the top PC seller in India, will take on the likes of Samsung, Apple and Nokia in the highly competitive Indian market.
Sources close to Lenovo said the company is making preparations for a mega launch next month. When contacted, Lenovo’s spokesperson in India Poornima Matthan confirmed the development.
Lenovo had earlier launched its range of smartphones in its home market China. In the smartphone category, Lenovo has become the No.2 vendor in China, behind Samsung, with an 11.2 per cent market share.
“We are still testing the market and our success in China takes us a step closer to launching smartphones in other countries. The next phase to continue driving growth and to build on our PC+ strategy is to organically expand beyond China in markets with high growth potential,” Matthan said in response to an email questionnaire.
Popularity of mobile devices has prompted traditional PC manufacturers such as HP, Dell and Lenovo to move into new categories like tablet and smartphones. But established players in the mobile space, including Samsung and Apple, are proving to be tough competition. Dell, for instance, has not had much success with its tablet.
Lenovo is betting on its ability to offer a converged platform with a strategy which it calls the PC-Plus Evolution. For Lenovo, the PC sits at the heart of an ecosystem that includes tablets, smartphones, and other smart-connected devices. “With this new paradigm in mind, Lenovo continues to invest in developing innovative products that will help drive the convergence of these technologies and services across all four screens - smart phones, tablets, PCs and smart TV,” Matthan said.
The PC maker is also hoping that its growing leadership in the PC segment combined with a widespread retail network across 660 cities will help strengthen its smartphones distribution plan. The company will draw on its experience selling devices in rural parts of China. While details of the product or pricing for India is still not available, its Android-based smartphone called LePhone had created ripples in the Chinese market.
thomas.thomas@thehindu.co.in