Motorola expands India product basket

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) In line with its plan to expand the product portfolio in India, global handset maker Motorola has now introduced its 'PEBL' phone in the country.

Priced at Rs 11,000, PEBL is the world's first automated opening handset.

Bullish on the country's growth prospects, Motorola has established India as its headquarter for the High Growth Markets (HGM).

''We chose India as the headquarters because of the country's strategic importance to Motorola's global operations and because of the highest growth rate and potential within the identified HGMs and the geographic advantage,'' Motorola, Corporate Vice President (High Growth Market) Allen Burnes told UNI.

The company is also investing heavily in marketing campaigns, expanding its distribution network, successful initiatives like Razr Express Service, etc.

The PEBL follows the succesful launch of the RAZR and the SLVR.

Mr Burnes said that India has been made the R&D and software manufacturing hub for Motorola worldwide and for developing next generation technologies.

''New models like PEBL and SLVR are also based on R&D efforts from India,'' Mr Burnes said.

Motorola has garnered 12 per cent of the Indian mobile handset market share.

Talking about the company's India plans, Mr Burnes said close to 40 per cent of software for cellular phones is being developed in the country.

''In the coming year we intend to shore up our team by another 1,000 members. We are also raising our investment in India,'' he said.

Motorola is planing to introduce a range of mobile handsets, both CDMA and GSM, in India. It is also looking to launch Bluetooth enabled devices like the Motorola Car kit, etc.

UNI MP SR RS1518