Viewsonic enters India with launch of LCD monitors

New Delhi, Dec 22: California-based visual technology provider Viewsonic today announced its entry into India with the launch of LCD monitors, and stated that other products are in the offing in the new year including LC televisions, projectors and display solutions.

''The products will be brought into India by designated importers.

We will essentially look after the marketing and business development side,'' Viewsonic Country Manager (India) Gautam Ghosh told a news conference here.

Mr Ghosh said the plans regarding LCD monitors is to making a dent in the retail market.

At present the products are sold through three distributors, and the monthly turnover from India is 1.5 million dollars.

Viewsonic plans to open 100 retail outlets by end-2007 in tier I and II cities. Plans are also afoot for signing deals with major retail players, conducting road shows and entering into other franchise agreements.

The products will be imported from its factories in California, China and Taiwan.

Mr Ghosh said his company will consider manufacturing LCD monitors in India in the event of import duty on the items being hiked.

The company, present in 30 countries, expects to close at 2.7 billion dollar revenues this year, as against 1.7 billion dollars.

The LCD multimedia monitors unveiled today are i-pod compatible and come with features such as built in subwoofer speakers, three USB ports, eight-in-one card readers.

Targeted at the 'A' segment, the monitors will be roughly priced at 300-320 dollars a piece. The product is competitively priced with segment leaders Samsung and LG.

Viewsonic is eyeing initial sales of 1,000 units per month in the country and within a few months plans to increase the sales to 3,500 units.

UNI