Following its decision to rebrand Nokia mobile stores as Microsoft stores, the software giant has launched its first Microsoft Priority Reseller outlet in the South, in Chennai.

In April, it piloted this model at Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, which turned out to be the first-ever ‘Microsoft Priority Reseller Store’ in the world.

Announcing the launch of the store in Chennai, TS Sridhar, Director – South, Nokia India Sales Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy), said it is not just a matter of re-branding the store. Each store will showcase various Microsoft devices interconnected to offer a complete picture. “The idea is to offer a truly compelling shopping experience with access to its portfolio of Lumia smartphones and other smart devices to consumers,” he said.

Facelift for Nokia outlets

Affirming India’s importance as a priority market, he said there are 441 Nokia outlets in India, and all of them will get a facelift with new design and the Microsoft signage.

Besides all its 119 Nokia Care centres and close to 9,000 multi-brand outlets too will get a new-look in the next couple of months, he added.

Without giving out any numbers, Sridhar said the Lumia range has been selling well in the market, and “we hope to garner much bigger share of the smart phone pie, particularly in the ₹4,000-15,000 price band, in the months to come”.

He also announced the launch of Lumia 540, which is “designed for young and ambitious people”.

The phone also comes with Paytm, the online wallet with a cash back offer worth ₹1,000 on recharges made, Ola’s consumer cash back offer for ₹800 on Ola money recharges and 2-month free subscription on Gaana.com with unlimited music downloads.

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