Telecom Lead Asia: Research in Motion (RIM), maker of BlackBerry smartphones, is aiming to become the number one smartphone brand in India after launching BlackBerry 10.
RIM officials feel that six smartphones being unveiled in 2013 on BlackBerry 10 OS platform will assist the smartphone maker to catapult to the number one position from the current third ranking. For this, it needs to overtake both Samsung and Nokia. Apple is also trying to sell iPhone range in Indian mobile market aggressively.
At present, market share of Samsung in Indian smartphone market is 41.6 percent in the first half of 2012. Nokia is the second largest smartphone marker with 19.2 percent share. RIM has 12.1 percent share.
During Q1, 2013, RIM is planning to unveil 1-2 new BlackBerry smartphones on BlackBerry 10 OS platform in India. Ahead of its January 30 launch globally, RIM India announced special freebies on BlackBerry curve models.
Annie Mathew, head of alliances, RIM India, told TelecomLead.com: “BlackBerry 10 is aimed at both small and large cities in India. The kind of response we are getting from the market will take us to the number one position in smartphone market in India.”
RIM developers have already added stunning features to attract both retail and enterprise users. RIM India is also expanding the presence of its phones in India by adding more partners and shops. In fact, BlackBerry 10 is becoming RIM’s lifeline.
READ MORE SMARTPHONE NEWS: RIM’s share in global cellphone market will decrease to 5 percent in 2012 from 11 percent in 2011, according to IHS.
RIM’s rival Samsung is expected to account for 29 percent of worldwide cellphone shipments from 24 percent in 2011.
IHS anticipates that the smartphone penetration rate in 2013 will elevate smartphones into the majority among all phone segments, at 56 percent.
RIM is betting that the new range of touchscreen and keyboard devices will revive its fortunes.
Interestingly, more than 1,600 customers in North America had registered for its BlackBerry 10 Ready Program and more than a thousand are actively using the program, which offers customers access to services, information and tools to ease their transition to the BlackBerry 10 and the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10.
Recently, RIM said its BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10, which runs the new devices on corporate networks, was in beta testing with more than 130 major government agencies and corporations in North America.
Early adoption of the long-awaited BlackBerry 10 devices by government and corporate clients will help breathe new life into the struggling company. Clients that are beta testing the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server 10 included more than 60 Fortune 500 companies and top North American government agencies.
RIM promises that its new line of devices will be faster and smoother than existing BlackBerry phones and will boast a large catalogue of apps, crucial to the success of any new line of smartphones.
READ PHONE NEWS: Samsung wants to capture 60 percent revenue share of smartphone market in India in 2013. Is the Korean device major aiming for too high in India? Though it’s not completely clear about future launches of Samsung, Apple, RIM, Nokia, LG, HTC, etc. it will be a big task to capture 60 percent revenue share in India since Apple, RIM and Nokia will be aggressive in the domestic mobile handset market.