Two low cost Indian mobile phone makers announced the launch of Windows phones in the coming months. The announcement follows Microsoft's promise to give windows to low cost manufacturers at this year's Mobile World Congress.
Firstpost reported that manufacturers Karbonn and Lava will be launching low cost windows phones priced between $99 and $197.
According to Firstpost, Karbonn's managing director Pradeep Jain told PTI, "We will come out with four devices with Windows-based operating systems by the end of May or starting June."
Microsoft's announcement earlier this year was aimed at reviving its fortunes in the mobile segment, largely dominated by Android and Apple. Microsoft had announced it would be joining hands with Gionee, JSR, Karbonn, Lava, Foxconn, Lenovo, LG, Longcheer and ZTE to make Windows phones, according to Indian Nerve.
Lava, the other Indian player set to launch Windows phones on Monday, said that its Windows phones would range between Rs 6,500 ($106) and Rs 8,500 ($139). The phones will be available by July.
"We expect the Windows-based phones to represent 8-10 percent volume of Lava smartphones starting July-August time-frame," said Lava International CEO and MD Hari Om Rai, according to Ibnlive.
Rai added that phones from his company would be based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 200 processor.
A news report by the Times of India last week stated that Microsoft agreed to waive off the license fee on windows for low cost manufacturers. It is worth noting Microsoft had charged Nokia $20 to $30 on every Lumia device, the Times report claimed.
According to the latest IDC figures, Microsoft occupied less than 10 percent of India's smartphone market. On the global scale, Android had a 78 percent share while Windows's market share did not exceed 3 percent, Ibnlive said.
