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Karbonn Mobiles is looking to work on its “Android One” portfolio to come out with a larger number of devices during the year.
Devices are likely to cater to the entry and mid level segments. The company’s current portfolio includes one device under Android One.
Launched in September 2014, “Android One” is a standard created by Google for its Android operating systems, targeting the affordable smart-phone segment in India. The operating system is without the vendor-specific modifications; while security updates are handled by Google. However, it is yet to see the expected off-take.
“We are optimising the experience of our Google applications. And we are looking at launching new devices running on Android One beginning the first quarter (Jan-March) of 2015,” Shashin Devsare, Director, Karbonn Mobiles, told Business Line.
According to him, initial response notwithstanding, Android One should be given more time before it is judged as a success or not. Google, he pointed out, will not tinker with the device specifications.
Karbonn, Devsare said, will also be open to exploring the Windows platform for its devices. It already has handsets on the operating system.
“It will take a few more quarters before there is a ripening of strategy on the Microsoft platform. However, we are OS agnostic,” he added.
Head-quartered in Delhi, the ` 4,500 crore Karbonn Mobiles is a 50-50 joint venture between Jaina Group (of Delhi) and Bangalore’s United Telelinks Ltd.
Expansion
According to Devsare, there are no immediate plans to opt for local manufacturing of handsets, because of lack of an ecosystem.
Like all home-grown vendors, it outsources its offerings from China.
Karbonn, however, would look to consolidate its position overseas.
It currently has a presence in over 40 countries across South Asia, Africa, South East Asia and Middle East. Some of the countries where it has a presence include Singapore, Vietnam, Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, among others.
Expansion and consolidation would mostly be through internal accruals, Devsare maintained. However, options of fund raising have been kept open. “We are not actively exploring any fund raising plans at the moment,” he said.
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