UniverCell plans own brand of mobile phones...

Chennai-based UniverCell Telecommunications India Private Limited, which owns the UniverCell multi-brand mobile phone retail chain, is planning to launch its own brand of mobile phones for the Indian market.

Speaking to Business Standard, UniverCell managing director Satish Babu said the company would launch its own brand in a year and target the below Rs 3,000 segment as these account for over 60 per cent of the total mobile market.

To begin with, the company would import handsets from China. He, however, did not rule out setting up a manufacturing facility at a later stage.

The company is planning to become a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which will provide mobile phone services but will not have its own licenced frequency allocation of the radio spectrum, he said.

He hinted that the company may go public by 2010-11 to raise money. It may be recalled that Hyderabad-based iLabs Venture Capital has invested Rs 100 crore in UniverCell in four tranches from 2007.

As part its pan India presence, UniverCell will increase the number of outlets from the present 200 to 1,000. It has tied up with retail chains Spencers and Music World outlets and is now in talks with other retail chains for setting up about 300 shop-in-shops in three months.

The company, for the year 2007-08, registered a turnover of Rs 350 crore and has set a target of Rs 500 crore for this fiscal.

It is looking to increase its market share in retail mobile from the present 20 per cent to 40 per cent.