New Delhi, Oct 30 (PTI) India's largest telecom operatorBharti Airtel today joined hands with Celkon to offer a lowcost bundled 4G smartphone at an "effective price" of Rs 1,349in a bid to counter JioPhone.
The latest offering comes under the 'Mera PehlaSmartphone' initiative by Airtel. Earlier this month, theSunil Mittal company had tied up with Karbonn Mobiles to bring4G smartphone at an effective cost of Rs 1,399.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has already announced anInternet-enabled feature phone for a refundable deposit of Rs1,500, and the incumbent operators are now lining up their ownbundled offers to counter the offensive.
Vodafone India last week said it has partnered withmobile handset firm Micromax to launch a 4G smartphone at an'effective price' of Rs 999.
According to an Airtel statement, the 'Celkon Smart 4G'(Rs 3,500 market price) has a 4-inch touchscreen, dual SIMslots and FM radio.
The Android device has access to all apps on Google PlayStore, including YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp, Airtel saidin a statement announcing its latest partnership with theIndian mobile device maker.
The phone comes bundled with a Airtel monthly pack of Rs169, the statement added.
The offer requires a customer to make a downpayment of Rs2,849 for the 4G smartphone followed by 36 monthly rechargesof Rs 169. The cash refund of Rs 500 can be availed after 18months and an additional Rs 1,000 after 36 months - adding upto a total Rs 1,500 cash benefit.
Those who do not want the Rs 169 bundled plan will havethe flexibility of doing recharges of any denomination andvalidity as per individual needs.
But the cash refund benefit will accrue only whenrecharges worth Rs 3,000 are made in the initial 18 months --to claim the first refund instalment of Rs 500 -- and anotherRs 3,000 in subsequent 18 months -- for second refundinstalment of Rs 1,000 -- it explained.
The company also said the ownership of the smartphone iscompletely with the customer.
On the announcement, Raj Pudipeddi, Director, ConsumerBusiness and Chief Marketing Officer, Bharti Airtel, said thepartnership with Celkon forms part of the company's endeavourto bring affordable smartphone options to the market and buildan 'open ecosystem' of low-cost devices.
"Celkon has strong brand affinity and deep distributionin southern Indian markets, and our partnership will enable usto serve a large set of customers with this affordablesmartphone proposition," he said.
The company is looking to bring more device partners on-board in the near future, he added. PTI MBIARD.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.