Chinese smartphone brand 'Comio' is all set to foray in Indian market

India is one of the world’s fastest growing smartphone markets in the world. Driven by increasing data consumption and falling data prices, a huge number of feature phone users are also migrating to smartphones and are seeking affordable devices.

It is to cater to this user-segment that Chinese original device maker Topwise Communications is planning to bring its 'Comio' brand of smartphones to India and invest Rs 500 crore over the next two years to build its presence in the country. The company which will compete with the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi and Micromax aims to capture 5 percent market share in three years of operation in India.

“We have been an ODM to many players, including those in India. There is a huge opportunity in India and we are keen on tapping that,” Comio CEO Sanjay Kumar Kalirona told PTI. He added that Comio will play in the Rs6,000-12,000 price bracket, which is a “sweet spot” accounting for 35-40 percent of the smartphone market in volume terms.

“We plan to invest Rs500 crore by March 2019. While Rs250 crore is for marketing, Rs150 crore is for research and development (R&D) and manufacturing, while Rs100 crore is for distribution and other activities,” Kalirona added.

Comio will look at setting up a manufacturing base in India after it sets up a national presence. The company which will introduce 3-4 handset models within few weeks will initially source devices from China and then third-party manufacturers in India.

The company plans to follow an offline-only model and will focus on distributors as well as build strong after-sales service to enhance the experience rather than just buying market share.