Research in Motion (RIM) and Samsung have opened their dedicated brand stores in Delhi – a move that is likely to help the smartphone majors consolidate their position in the rapidly growing Indian market.
The Canadian smartphone maker opened its first BlackBerry Premium Store in Connaught Place in New Delhi. The store features the entire BlackBerry product portfolio.
Samsung Electronics launched their first Samsung Mobile Brand Store in Select City Mall in Delhi. The store features Samsung's entire range of Samsung smartphones, tablets and accessories.
RIM says its BlackBerry Premium Store will give users an opportunity to discover BlackBerry experience with special zones including consumer and enterprise apps along with product services. The zones will also have a special demo zone to promote performance of the BlackBerry smartphones. The BlackBerry Premium Store will be open seven days a week. RIM plans to open its Premium Stores in other metro cities in near future.
"Serving as a gateway into the world of BlackBerry, The BlackBerry Premium Store will offer holistic consumer experience on BlackBerry consumer and enterprise services to its consumers," the company said in a statement.
Samsung's Mobile Brand Store will also deliver a similar experience to its visitors. The store will have dedicated area for demos, so that multiple demos are held at same time.
Samsung's Mobile Brand Store will also deliver a similar experience to its visitors. The store will have dedicated area for demos, so that multiple demos are held at same time.
"The Samsung Mobile Brand Store is a significant step in the direction of creating new, unique and holistic product experiences for consumers at the retail level. The Samsung Mobile Brand Store will allow consumers to engage and interact with Samsung Smartphones and tablets through convenient table top displays, multiple product demonstrations and dedicated areas for interacting with Samsung Product Consultants," said B.D. Park, president and CEO, South West Asia, Samsung Electronics and managing director, Samsung India Electronics.
Currently, handset makers such as Nokia and Micromax have their exclusive stores across the country. These exclusive stores have helped these companies consolidate their basessignificantly. Other manufacturers such as Samsung by now had depended on retail stores such as HotSpot, Croma and Jumbo.
The exclusive retail stores may boost RIM's sales in the near future, desperately needed as it has been lagging far behind most players in the international market. RIM is now eyeing the Indian smartphone market, and is making attempts to enter the 2-tier and 3-tier cities as well. Its recent introduction of the new low-cost, BBOS 7.1-bearing Curve 9220 was no coincidence.
Samsung, on the other hand, is well positioned in the Indian market, and is competing with the likes of Nokia and Micromax. Samsung has already launched a wide range of smartphones and tablets. With its dual-SIM phones and budget smartphones, it has penetrated well into the 2nd-tier cities of the country. The exclusive store will certainly ramp up Samsung's base in metro cities.
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