Meridian Mobile to invest Rs 250 cr in FY-09

Mumbai, Apr 3 (UNI) Meridian Mobile Private Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of the UK-based handset maker Meridian, will invest Rs 250 crore in India by the end of FY-09 for enhancing its market access.

The Company envisaged to open at least three thousand additional retail counters across the country offering access not only to customers in metro cities but also in Tier-II and Tier III cities, Meridian CEO Rajiv Khanna told mediapersons here today, after the launch of new middle-ranged handset series -- ''Hummer''.

In Mumbai, the number of counters will go up to 1200 from 450 within three months and up to 1000 counters in Delhi, where there are 250 counters at present, Mr Khanna said.

The Company is expanding rapidly in the country by developing a large offering under the Fly brand, manufactured at its Korea unit and targets a sale of three million handsets in the current financial year. It has tied-up with General Motor's ''Hummer'' as a part of associational branding, Mr Khanna said.

Fly is the brand under which Meridian sells its mobile handsets.

''Hummer by Fly'' will be marketed as an aspirational brand and is aimed at youngsters. The phone comes with a 262k colour LCD with touch screen, a two megapixel camera and GSM connectivity, Mr Khanna added.

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