Univercell ~ univercell mobiles

UniverCell Telecommunications India Private Limited, which owns the UniverCell multi-brand mobile phone retail chain, is planning to launch its own brand of mobile phones for the Indian market.

The Chennai-based firm plans to launch its own brand in a year and target the below Rs3,000 segment as these account for over 60 per cent of the total mobile market.

To begin with, the company will import handsets from China. The company is planning to become a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which will provide mobile phone services but will not have its own licenced frequency allocation of the radio spectrum.

As part its pan India presence, UniverCell will increase the number of outlets from the present 200 to 1,000. It has tied up with retail chains Spencers and Music World outlets and is now in talks with other retail chains for setting up about 300 shop-in-shops in three months.

The company, for the year 2007-08, registered a turnover of Rs350 crore and has set a target of Rs500 crore for this fiscal.

It is looking to increase its market share in retail mobile from the present 20 per cent to 40 per cent.