Q:With how many models does Fly Mobiles made its entry into the Indian market in 2005?
Fly is a European mobile phone company founded in 2003, which has its presence in countries like India, UK, France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Nigeria. The company continuously explores new opportunities and as a part of that endeavor, Fly was introduced in India in 2005. We marked an entry into the Indian market with six models in our kitty. The entry was complemented by the announcement of Malaika Arora Khan as our brand ambassador.
Q:How big is the demand for Bluetooth-enabled handsets amongst Indian consumers? Is it similar to the trends globally?
When we entered the Indian market in 2005, Bluetooth technology was not very popular amongst Indian consumers. On the contrary, globally the trend was in full swing. Of the six phones that we launched initially, five models were Bluetooth-enabled.
Also, with MP3 and imaging capabilities becoming popular amongst Indian consumers, Bluetooth-enabled devices, that help transfer data from one mobile to another or from laptop/PC to a cellphone or vise a versa are gaining popularity and acceptance in the Indian market. Currently, Fly has 33 models in the market, out of which 26 are Bluetooth-enabled.
Q:What is deriving the demand for Bluetooth-enabled phones? Does pricing play a significant role in making the technology popular?
Transferring of data seamlessly between two cellphones without spending money is the main use or benefit for the consumer. With time, mobile phones are becoming affordable in terms of pricing. Today, a phone worth Rs 3,000 comes loaded with MP3 player, camera, FM radio and Bluetooth technology. When we introduced our first Bluetooth-enabled phone, it cost Rs 6,500 whereas today the price of our entry-level phone with Bluetooth technology is around Rs 2,900.
With time, the usage of Bluetooth has evolved. Today, the Bluetooth technology enables the use of handsfree. We have plans in store to introduce our Bluetooth accessories for the standalone retail purpose.
Q:How do you plan to encash this opportunity in future?
We aim to add four to six new Bluetooth-enabled handsets to our portfolio by the end of this calendar year. We plan to focus on putting together handsome range of Bluetooth accessories. The models would include goggles, earphones, locket-shaped and the regular steel format.