Chinese handset maker Coolpad to set up R&D centre in Bengaluru; targets sale of 4 M units this year

Chinese handset maker Coolpad recently announced that the firm is all set to establish an R&D unit in Bengaluru by the end of the year to add localised features to meet the demands in India.

The company, which has partnered Videocon to assemble its handsets in India, also aims to sell about four million smartphones this year. Coolpad India CEO Syed Tajuddin told PTI,

"We are looking at setting up R&D centre in Bengaluru. We expect to start after Diwali and it would be fully functional before the end of the year...We expect to have about 85 people to begin with."

He added that the centre will work on customisation of the device to meet Indian requirements and at a later stage, also focus on app and content for the smartphones. The company recently launched its new handset -- Coolpad Max -- priced at Rs 24,999. It will be sold through Amazon.in.

Also read : Make In India – Coolpad’s affordable mobile handsets to roll out in 2016

The device will allow users to use two accounts on WhatsApp , Facebook, Messenger and other apps, which users currently can't do. It features a 5.5-inch display, powered by Qualcomm 1.5 GHz octacore processor, 4 GB RAM, 64GB memory (expandable up to 64 GB), 13 MP rear and 5 MP front camera and 2800 mAh battery.

"This is the fourth device we have launched in the last sixth months. We are working on expanding our portfolio and we should have at least five new devices this year," Tajuddin said.

He added that already one million units have been sold.

India is one of the fastest growing smartphone markets globally. According to research firm IDC, smartphone shipments in the country grew at 5.2 percent, to 23.5 million units in January-March 2016, from the year-ago period.

Samsung led the tally with 26.6-percent share of the Indian smartphone market, followed by Micromax (12.6 percent), Intex (9.2 percent) and Lenovo (with Motorola - 8.2 percent).