Sales of mobile devices in India are predicted to reach 251 million units in 2013 – an increase of 13.5 per cent over 2012 sales of 221 million units, according to information technology research company Gartner.

“The Indian mobile phone market is very competitive with more than 150 device manufacturers selling devices to consumers. Most of these manufacturers remain focused on the low-cost feature phone market which still constitutes over 91 per cent of overall mobile phone sales, offering a huge market to compete in,” said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner.

“The increase in share of smartphone device sales, declining sales to first time buyers and the continuous focus of global manufacturers on the low cost feature phone market, has put many of the 150 plus local and Chinese device manufacturers under survival mode. Many of them are already struggling to maintain share in the growing market,” said Gupta.

Some of these local and Chinese manufacturers are building capabilities, distribution and brand to compete with the big global players as they are preparing to compete at a larger level covering broader consumer segments.

Manufacturers such as ZTE, Micromax, Huawei , Karbonn Mobile, stand at sixth, seventh, 11th and 12th in the Indian smartphone market in this year’s first half and are constantly expanding their smartphone portfolio to compete at a larger level with big global manufacturers Samsung and Nokia which held the first and second position respectively.

Samsung’s brand strength and wide device portfolio has allowed it to take advantage of the high growth opportunities in Indian market. Samsung’s share has risen from 15 per cent in the first quarter last year to 49.8 per cent in this year’s second quarter.

If Samsung continues this strong growth, it could end 2012 with more than 60 per cent share – exactly where Nokia was at the start of 2011, said Gupta.

GB