Now, Acer to launch smartphones in India

Acer, the world's third-largest PC vendor, today said it will launch nine models of handheld mobile devices in the country, making its foray into the increasingly competitive smartphone sector in India.

The smartphones would be priced between Rs 16,000 and Rs 35,000.

Acer plans to be among the top five in smartphones within the next three to five years.

"Our goal is to be in the top five within three to five years," said Aymar de Lencquesaing, senior corporate VP Acer Inc and president Smart Handheld Business Group.

The company plans to garner 6-7 per cent share of the global smartphone market in the next three to five years.

Though the company is very bullish on the Indian market , it is likely to see competition from the existing players such as Nokia, Samsung, Apple and HTC.

However, Lencquesaing said despite slump in demand for mobile phones caused by the global economic slowdown, the demand for --Smartphones -- a mobile phone which offers advance computer-like capabilities is likely to grow.

"This official launch in India marks the first step of our Smart Handheld Business Group in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing mobile market," Lencquesaing said.

The devices would be available in India through its distribution partner Vision Distribution.