Indus OS partnering more device makers to expand market reach

In addition to Micromax handsets, Indus OS has partnered with two other handset makers- Celkon and Swipe to deepen its market reach.

“They have a very strong connect with consumers, especially in the regional markets,” said Rakesh Deshmukh, CEO, Indus OS.

Indus OS claims to be the second most popular OS in India after Android as per Counterpoint Research. The company is targeting to be on 1 in every 6 smartphone devices in India by 2017.

In Indus OS’ target segment, over 30 per cent users don’t have e-mail IDs and less than 10 percent have credit cards, making it difficult for them to download apps. Indus OS’ app marketplace, App Bazaar (available in 12 regional languages) allows users to download and pay for apps without email IDs and credit cards.

It was launched first as Firstouch -a regional-language smartphone operating system. The journey started in May 2015 with the Micromax Unite3 model. Since then, the company has achieved a 4 million user base across more than 35 smartphone models with a span of just 12 months. It recently has launched the updated Indus OS 2.0 with Micromax's Unite 4 series.

Indus OS has developed unique patented technologies based on extensive user survey and analysis.

The Indus Keyboard is a regional keyboards and offers the auto-correction and mathra-prediction features in 12 regional languages. Urdu transliteration support has been added for the first time in Indian smartphones by Indus OS.

All Indus OS powered devices from Celkon and Swipe will have the latest version of the operating system – Indus OS 2.0, offering patented technologies such as Indus Swipe, Indus Reader (text-to-speech in regional languages), Hybrid Keyboard, and updated with 12 regional languages with recent additions of Urdu and Assamese.

While Swipe has not announced the models that will be on Indus OS, Celkon's Campus PRIDE will be the first device to come with Indus OS this month.