Domestic electronics firm Salora International, known for television sets, today said it plans to start smartphone manufacturing here within a year.
"We intent to start assembly of smartphones within 12 months in India. We are already making CRT, LED Television sets, home theatres, electronic components here. Manufacturing is in our blood," Salora Chairman and Managing Director Gopal Jiwarajka told PTI.
The company has launched separate brand 'Arya' for its smartphone which it will sell only through e-commerce firm Amazon from Monday. It will initially import phones from China.
"Through Arya, we will sell latest technology enabled smartphones at affordable price. The first phone, Arya Z2, on Android KitKat platform with 5 inch high definition IPS screen will start selling from Monday for Rs 6,999," Jiwarajka said.
The Arya Z2 is a dual SIM phone which supports 3G SIM in both the slots. It has 8 megapixel back camera and 2 MP front camera, 1 GB RAM and 4 GB ROM.
"We want to leverage our service infrastructure. Even Apple phones are made in China. Brand sustainability depends on service and promise. Salora has been in existence since last 37 years despite unhealthy business environment for the sector because of brand promise," Jiwarajka said.
Salora has over 250 service centres across 189 cities in the country.
The company will replace its mobile phone under warranty condition if brought dead on arrival within 10 days of sale or it is not repaired within 7 days, Salora CMD said.
"On third repair of hardware within warranty condition the phone will be replaced with a new handset. Besides we will provide pick and drop facility of handsets in cities where we do not have our service centres," Jiwarajka said.
