Idea launches 3G-enabled smartphones; targets youngsters

India's third largest private telecom operator Idea on Tuesday launched a 3G-enabled smartphone, ULTRA II, at a price of ₹12,500 focusing on driving data penetration in the country through sale of 3G devices.

Idea also launched an entry level 3G smartphone, Idea !d 1000, aimed at first time smartphone buyers and is priced at ₹5,400, it said in a release.

The handsets will be available in the market from next week.

'Lack of availability of affordable 3G smartphones with high-end features is the deterrent to mobile data growth in India. Idea has tried to bridge this gap by offering the best value for money 3G devices, in addition to our superior 3G products, services, and network coverage,' Idea Cellular CMO Sashi Shankar said.

The firm has witnessed a consistent growth in data uptake in its 3G markets where its branded 3G smartphones have been selling, for the past two years, he added.

'This has encouraged us to further expand our devices portfolio with the launch of our first 5.5-inch screen 3G smartphone, ULTRA II, and the entry-level !d 1000, which will help us target consumers at both ends of the spectrum,' he said.

The 5.5-inch Ultra II runs of Android Jelly Bean 4.2 and is powered by a 1.3 quad core processor.

The handset sports a 8 megapixel rear camera with HDR and a 2 MP front camera with LED flash, it said in a statement.

It has a 2500 mAh powerful battery and comes with an ultimate power saver mode for 75% extra saving on battery time.

The ULTRA II is available in white and electric graphite and is priced at ₹12,500. The phone will be available at Idea's major 3G markets - Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa, MP and Chhattisgarh, Haryana, UP West, and UP East.

Idea !d 1000, which features a 3.5-inch screen, is powered by a 1 GHz dual core processor and runs on Android Jelly Bean 4.2 OS.

This dual-SIM handset also has a built-in social networking app. It carries a 2MP camera and an internal memory of 4GB, expandable to 32 GB. The smartphone will be available across Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra & Goa, MP & Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, UP West and UP East.

'With the launch of two new devices, Idea's portfolio of 3G smartphones has gone to 15 and the company has already sold over 6.5 lakh devices,' Idea said.