Nokia to focus on sub-Rs 6k handset market

Mobile handset maker, Nokia, is likely to launch more products in the sub-Rs 6,000 price category. Currently, the company has around 30-40 handset models available in the Indian market, of which 10-15 models are below the price point of Rs 6,000.

“Our focus is to be more competitive in the sub-Rs 6,000 price segment,” Jasmeet Gandhi, head (services marketing and devices OPM), Nokia India, told mediapersons here on Wednesday.

A recent study conducted by research company Nielsen on internet usage through mobile phones in the sub-Rs 6,000 category shows that there is a huge shift in the way consumers use internet through mobile phones.

The study was conducted involving 3,000 respondents from across eight cities in India. The data shows that of the total respondents, around 73 per cent are under 35 years of age, 82 per cent of them use Nokia phones for internet, and most of the mobile internet users are youngsters. Browsing, followed by email/chat and social networking are the top habits.

The total internet user base in India is 47 million, of which 11.8 million people use internet on their mobile phones. Internet usage in India is growing at 300 per cent year-on-year. The demand to use internet from mobile phones is also growing, he added.

The survey, which was commissioned by Nokia, has helped it in understanding the consumer needs by knowing the internet experience of the consumers. “We will use the inputs drawn from the survey in our research and development, and implement the findings in manufacturing new products,” he added.

The mobile internet trend is changing with the increasing user base. Now, handsets are available with application based-features in the sub-Rs 6,000 category. “We are planning to launch new models with entry-level technologies, focusing more on mobile internet users,” he added.