Sony Ericsson has said that its distribution partners Ingram and Salona will focus on retailing in small cities and towns across India to meet its expansion plans. The company will also double its advantage stores in Gujarat by the year-end. According to the company, 60 per cent of its business comes from B and C category towns whereas in bigger cities, the market is more for replacement customers. Another significant change in buying pattern pointed out by the company was the preference for colour mobile handsets in small cities. In the beginning of 2005, about 60-70 per cent of the handsets were black and white but by the end of the year, the trend had reversed.
