Brands
OnePlus is India’s fastest growing Android smartphone
MUMBAI: OnePlus continued its growth in the overall Indian premium Android smartphone segment (above $400) by capturing 48 per cent market share in Q4 2017, as per International Data Corporation’s (IDC) latest Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker Q4 2017.
The IDC data also highlights the growing importance of the premium Android smartphone segment that outperformed the overall market with 97 per cent year-on-year growth (vs 54 per cent for overall premium smartphone market and 14 per cent for the overall smartphone market). During 2017, OnePlus grew by a staggering 1116 per cent in the premium smartphone segment as it further strengthened its robust performance in the online market and entrenched itself in the minds of smartphone users in India by consistently staying ahead of players like Apple and Samsung.
According to the Counterpoint Research report for the last quarter on the Indian handset market, the premium smartphone segment was the second fastest growing segment in CY 2017 driven by the strong performance of OnePlus and Apple.
Talking about the findings from the Q4 2017 report, Counterpoint Research associate director Tarun Pathak says, “While India’s smartphone market continues to grow in double digits, the premium segment, the category of less than Rs 30,000 is all set to grow faster by 20 per cent than the overall smartphone market in CY 2018. In such a scenario OnePlus, the fastest growing brand in this segment, is likely to grow as it enjoys a strong brand loyalty in India while positioning itself as a flagship-killer in the segment.”
OnePlus general manager Vikas Agarwal adds, “It is truly remarkable that OnePlus has become the biggest Android premium smartphone brand within just three years of entering the Indian market. It is a great validation of our user focused approach and online first business model. We are truly humbled and grateful to our business partners and loving community for their continued support.”
Globally, OnePlus became a $1.4 bn brand in the fourth year of its operation with India as its biggest market, contributing to one-third of the global business. With a single flagship a year product strategy and limited availability (Amazon.in for online and Croma for offline), OnePlus has emerged as the biggest brand in premium Android smartphone segment within just three years of its operations in India.
With industry leading features like 8GB RAM, dash charging and latest Android Oreo based OxygenOS, the attractively priced OnePlus 5T has become the best-selling premium smartphone with a average product rating of 4.6 which is the highest rating for any smartphone on Amazon.in as on 22 Feb 2018. The recently launched OnePlus 5T Lava Red edition was one of the most popular products on Amazon.in and quickly sold out during the Republic Day and Valentine Day sale events.
To further enhance the user experience and complement its online only presence, OnePlus has recently expanded its offline footprint with the launch of its first authorised store in Mumbai. OnePlus has also partnered with Croma to increase the number of physical touch-points and is in the process of opening large format exclusive experience stores across top cities.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
