The smartphone market in India is set to get more competitive, with former Apple CEO John Sculley’s InflexionPoint planning to launch a smartphone brand by May, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.
InflexionPoint is a Singapore-based investment and acquisition technology firm and is co-founded by John Sculley, who stepped down from iPhone-maker Apple in 1993 after a tiff with the late Steve Jobs.
The company now plans on floating a new smartphone brand in India and the India team, which will look after distribution and sales, will be headed by former Micromax smartphone head Ajay Sharma. It will be a China manufacturing-driven operation as well.
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“The phones will be manufactured out of China, which will be taken care by InflexionPoint’s sister company there. We will take care of sales and distribution here. We believe we can differentiate ourselves in the market here,” Mr. Sharma told this correspondent, while confirming the development.
Mr. Sharma, who was also HTC India’s former country head, has assembled a team to start work on the brand. “Most of the phones that will be launched will be in the price range of Rs. 5,000 – Rs. 15,000,” he added.
The brand for the new smartphone range, however, has not been given a name yet. It will be finalized by next week, according to Mr. Sharma.
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The domestic smartphone market has seen a proliferation of a number of Chinese brands in the last two years, but Mr. Sculley’s attempt is probably the most high-profile foray in recent times.
InflexionPoint, which was also co-founded by Indian entrepreneur Neeraj Chauhan, is no stranger to India. The company acquired Delhi-based information technology distribution firm Iris Computers last year for around $300 million.
It also co-founded an Indian e-commerce company called ChangeMyTyre.com—which is an online store for car tyres.