The Dutch consumer electronics maker, Philips plans to re-enter the Indian handset market by launching a wide range of feature phones and smartphones.
The brand?s products in the country will be launched by Sang Fei Consumer Communications Corporation, which is a joint venture between Royal Dutch Philips Electronics and Shenzhen SED Industry Corporation.
The company will once again debut in the Indian handset market after a hiatus of about seven years. Earlier, in 2007, Philips had exited the Indian mobile phone market with China Electronics Corporation (CEC), the parent group of Sang Fei Consumer Communications Corporation, acquiring the company?s global mobile phone business.
Philips? Indian handset business is going to be led by Sang Fei?s head of SAARC operations, SS Bassi who has earlier worked with companies such as Lenovo India and Reliance Communications.
With Philips re-entering the handset business in India, the company is going to face stiff competition from established international players such as Samsung, Nokia as well as from home-grown brands including Micromax and Karbonn Mobiles.
