MAM
Samsung launches two new GSM handsets
MUMBAI / BANGALORE: Samsung India has announced the all-India launch of two new mobile hand sets – SGH C230 and SGH X640 – bringing the total to ten new models launched in 2005. Another 12 models are slated for release by December 2005.
A vivid 65,000 colour display, 40 polyphonic ring tones, voice recording functionality, 1,000 phone book memory are some of the other features of the Samsung SCH-C230, states an official release. It is priced at Rs 6,249.
On the other hand, the SGH-X640 comes with a high resolution VGA camera with 4X digital zoom, a 65,000 colour display and a shiny self portrait mirror making picture taking remarkably easy. The phone weighs 85 grams and supports tri-band GPRS facility. The phone is priced at Rs 8,699, the release adds.
“The need for high data transmission speeds is fuelling the wireless technology trends, from analog to digital and going forward to 3G and 4G applications. We want to lead in the convergence arena so that our users can truly enjoy the benefits of wireless technology and the growing number of applications derived from convergence,” said Samsung director – telecom H C Ryu.
A Samsung source said that US$2.8 million had been earmarked towards ad-spends for the C-230 and US$1.6 million for the X640, primarily on television-ads. Cheil Communications handles the creatuives. Samsung India GM Corporate Communications Ruchika Batra, said that Samsung had grossed Rs.49 billion for 2004, of which mobile phones contributed 14 per cent. Batra was confident of a 40 per cent growth in revenue for 2005, of which she averred that mobile contribution to revenue would grow to 17 per cent.
Samsung is aiming to fuel its growth in the Indian market through new feature rich handset introductions, strategic operator tie ups as well as by enhancing its penetration in the Indian market. “We are aiming for market leadership in the premium phone category by the year 2007 and expect to grow the folder phone category in India,” he added.
Samsung India is targeting over 90 per cent of its sales to come from the colour /camera phone market. The company, which has launched 10 new GSM models in the first five months of the year, plans to introduce 12 new models in the second half of the year.
“We expect to fuel the growth of the colour and camera phone segment in the country by launching our leading technology, innovative products in the Indian market,” Ryu said.
The company is focusing on customising its products to better meet the needs of Indian customers. A few Samsung handset models support up to seven regional Indian language menus including Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati and Kannada.
Based on the growing popularity of FM radio amongst mobile phone users, the SGH-C230 will be available with digital stereo FM radio. This is the first phone in the Samsung product portfolio to support digital stereo FM radio and at 70 grams, it is the lightest in the category of mobile phones with FM.
The company plans to continue leveraging its leadership in both GSM and CDMA protocols in the Indian market and is targeting a 30 per cent market share in the Indian market by 2007.
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
