New utilities keep feature phones alive & kicking

Available for as low as Rs 600, these models are adapting to mobile-money to challenge smartphones

Smartphones might seem ubiquitous these days, but feature phone makers are not ready to bow out of the game yet. Cheaper models and newer features aimed at the lowest level of the customer pyramid are driving sales of such handsets.

With the recent push for a cashless economy and digital transactions after demonetisation, makers of feature phones are incorporating these utilities in their models. Analysts said they would continue to give a tough challenge to smartphone makers in the low-cost segment this year.

Smartphones are now available for as low as Rs 2,000. But most of them are only upgraded