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Chip-maker Intel Corporation is looking to collaborate with Indian and global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to extend its offerings in the tablet PC and handset segments.
What this basically means is that the chip-maker will be providing the micro processors that work inside the smart phones.
According to Navin Shenoy, Vice-President and General Manager of Mobility Cloud Platforms, Intel is looking to "match-make local players with the supply chains" as well as explore tie-ups with "global OEMs", as the case may be.
"We will explore both the tie-ups (local and global OEMs). Where it is necessary we are looking to match-make local players with our supply chains," he told BusinessLine .
According to market sources, although synonymous with laptops and desktops, Intel was a late entrant in the smart phone (processors) category. Handset vendors preferred to go with the ARM-based processors made by rival firms like Qualcomm because they consume less power.
Shenoy was speaking at a media round table at Computex 2015, an annual ICT conference .
Price points
Offerings, spread across tablet PCs, mobile phones and phablets (large screen mobiles), will cater to the "entry level segment".
Although Shenoy did not mention the price points, he maintained that Intel will not target "the very low" price bracket segment.
"Price will be determined by the type of device on offer or its specifications. But our focus (Intel) will be on the entry level segment.... Not the very low end though," he maintained.
Xolo phones
In India, the company successfully partnered Lava to bring out a range of Xolo phones that have Intel chips. Lava sells mobile phones in India under the Lava and Xolo sub-brands.
This apart, it has announced a recent tie up with Micromax for a two-in-one detachable (tablet-cum-laptop).
The successful global tie-ups include the ones with Asus, and Acer.
Discussions with e-com platforms
Meanwhile, Shenoy added that the company was is discussion with e-commerce platforms like Flipkart to help in distribution.
He indicated that Intel would look to leverage lower cost distribution models on behalf of its partners.
"We are figuring out the exact needs. But it's a high priority market for us. The real challenge is to have the right product at the right price," he added.
Intel is also looking at furthering partnerships with the Central and State governments when it comes to distribution of laptops.
(The writer is at Computex 2015, at the invitation of Intel )
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