UniverCell launches e-mobile shop

Chennai, Sep 29 (UNI) City based UniverCell, a poineer in mobile phone retailing, today launched an exclusive e-mobile shop, catering to every need, that a mobile customer encounters.

Film actor Simbu, who launched the website "www.univercell.in", designed on a search, compare and buy format, placed an order to purchase a Sony Ericcson set, valued at more than Rs 35,000.

The site was the first website in this category to offer not only a wide range of over 300 models across brands but also accessories, special deals and offers, Managing Director D Sathish Babu said addressing a press conference.

By visiting the site, one could compare prices and features across models by a touch of a button, sitting at home and office, he said adding the company, after the order was placed, would provide free door delivery on the same evening.

The company proposed to spend Rs two crore for marketing the website, which was already a hit and rated as one of the best by amazon.com. Even before its formal launch, the site registered close to seven lakh visitors a day and about 2500 unique customers login every day, he claimed.

Stating that the company would target NRIs, who aspired to get mobile sets for their parents living in India, he said business was expected to take off in a big way next year and the company expected to market two lakhs sets during 2007.

Mr Babu said the company proposed to offer the site in regional languages, to begin with in Tamil and Hindi.

He said UniverCell, founded in 1997, had grown in leaps and bounds to become a Private limited company and clock an annual turnover of Rs 72 crore. The company has earmarked a turnover of Rs 150 crore during this fiscal.

Mr Babu said UniverCell had drawn up plans to open retail shops all over Tamil Nadu during 2007, all over South India during 2008 and all over the country during 2009. "By 2010, we will reach a turnover of Rs 3000 crore," he added.

UNI WS AJ 1816