iBall plans to launch 3G- compatible mobile by January

Computer peripheral maker iBall, which is the latest entrant into the mobile handset business, would come out with its third-generation (3G) compatible phone models by January 2011. At its southern market launch here on Wednesday, the company unveiled eleven mobile models in seven categories.

Sandeep Parasrampuria, director, Best IT World (India) Pvt Ltd which makes the iBall products, said the entry into mobile segment was a natural progression for the company which has been in the technology products business since 2001. It has set up over 500 distributors 100 company-owned service centres in Andhra Pradesh, he said.

According to Parasrampuria, iBall has products in 20 categories and the mobile phones were its 21st product category.

On entering a crowded mobile handset market, he said iBall would take a segmented approach, with each model designed to meet specific needs and affordability of a particular segment.

The newly launched handsets are in the price range of Rs 1,250 -- 7,000, he said, and highlighted 'Senior' model meant for senior citizens, which comes with a bigger display and an emergency/SOS button which, on pressing, contacts five pre-selected numbers by SMS and by phone.