Tag: Micromax

  • Micromax Takes On HTC with Canvas Selfie, a Smartphone Featuring 13 MP Front and Rear Cameras

    Micromax Takes On HTC with Canvas Selfie, a Smartphone Featuring 13 MP Front and Rear Cameras

    Homegrown smartphone maker Micromax yesterday announced a new device that will be quite a deal for selfie lovers. The company has unveiled Canvas Selfie with a 13 MP camera on the front as well as back. The phone is a pleasant surprise for those who love to click pictures at every occasion. The phone launch saw many famed personalities like CEO Vineet Taneja and IPTL stars Sania Mirza, Ana Ivanovic, Kristina Mladenovic and Daniela Hantuchova.

    micromax_canvas_selfie

    With the launch of Canvas Selfie, Micromax has taken on HTC Desire Eye, the first camera to offer 13 MP camera on both sides. The amazing camera is clearly its USP, but along with that Micromax Canvas Selfie houses in-built beauty tools like eye enhancement, skin smoothening, teeth whitening, remove oil, make-up, fade dark circles etc.

    The phone sports a 4.7-inch HD IPS display and boasts 1.7 GHz Tru-octacore processor. It runs on Android KitKat 4.4. The device comes with a 2,300 mAh battery which can last for a day on a single charge. Canvas Selfie is a dual-SIM mobile with common slots for nano SIM and memory card, which is usually not found in many phones. It has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB ROM (both internal). The memory is expandable up to 32 GB. The smartphone comes with Corning Glass 3, which means that the scratch-resistant quality of the phone is unmatched.

    The phone will be available for purchase online in the second week of January 2015. The company has been quite tight-lipped about the pricing of the same.

  • iGyaan Exclusive : Micromax to Set Up OnePlus-like Developers Forum in India

    iGyaan Exclusive : Micromax to Set Up OnePlus-like Developers Forum in India

    Micromax has successfully reached an agreement with Cyanogen through which the company has exclusive rights to offer devices with the custom platform in India. Meanwhile, OnePlus went off-contract due to the exclusivity of the agreement, resulting in no official support or future updates for the ‘flagship killer’.

    In line with the open source nature of Cyanogen, Yu is expected to set up a forum where users can contribute ideas and tweaks for the operating system. The suggestions from this forum might get incorporated in the fortnightly updates. For folks who complain about the unavailability of updates on Indian manufacturers, this should be a welcoming news.

    Now, our exclusive sources have revealed that Micromax is all set to make its first big step in these lines. The company, according to our source, has already purchased the domain name http://www.yuplaygod.com/, which is under construction at present. The source added ‘Micromax is turning into a full fledged developer and community-friendly with its new line of YU mobiles.’

    unnamed

    Also, the company has finished working on official forums at http://forums.yuplaygod.com/, however, it is not made public yet. Yu Televentures will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Micromax Informatics. It’s the offspring of a tie-up between Micromax and Cyanogen. Cyanogen is, of course, known world over for making one of the best custom ROMs for Android smartphones.

    OnePlus has gained a lot of popularity globally by taking this path and Micromax is expecting to trace OnePlus’ path here in India. Our source added Micromax is all ready and will make the website and forum live in coming weeks. And you can also expect the first Yu handset to arrive in a couple of weeks.

    Update : After running a Whois search, we found out that the domain is registered under the name of Divanshu Thakral. According to his Linkedin profile, he is the head of Consumer Engagement Products and Services at YU in Micromax India which confirms the information shared above.

    yumobile

  • Cyanogen Ditches OnePlus in Favour of Micromax in India

    Cyanogen Ditches OnePlus in Favour of Micromax in India

    While Indian smartphone lovers were anticipating the launch of the ‘Flagship Killer’, OnePlus has dropped a bomb that was not expected by anyone. The company has shared some disappointing news on its official blog. Well, Cyanogen had granted exclusive rights in India over the Cyanogen system to another company.

    That means, the flagship killer will be reaching the country with the popular Cyanogen OS onboard for now. However, it won’t be getting any official support or future updates. The company also added that the One will continue to be supported globally and receive frequent OTAs.

    The reason for this disappointment is a recent agreement between Cyanogen and homegrown smartphone maker Micromax, through which the latter has exclusive rights to offer devices with the custom platform in India. So, while the company has no other choice than to bring the OnePlus One to the country with the CM11S OS inside, it’ll be developing its own firmware as a replacement in the future.

    The company estimated that they will be able to release our first community build to Indian users next month and have a production-ready build in February. The system will be based on Lollipop, the company said, and will be built to be stable, fast, and lightweight. The smartphone manufacturer also revealed that it will be bloatware-free and will only carry the features important to users. It further stated that they don’t have any intention to iterate Google’s Material design and stock Android experience.

    Cyanogen OS was one of the main reason a lot of people wanted to get their hands on the OnePlus One. The fact that Cyanogen saves users from the trouble of rooting, unlocking the bootloader and flashing a new ROM as well as assures them that the phone will be supported in the long run, have made it popular and it has built quite a following in recent years.

    As we reported earlier, OnePlus One is going to launch on 2nd December (tomorrow) in India and will be sold exclusively through Amazon.in. The device is expected to be priced around Rs. 24,990 for 64 GB and Rs. 19,990 for 16 GB variant.

  • Micromax Launches Cyanogen-Powered Brand ‘Yu’ for Advanced Users

    Micromax Launches Cyanogen-Powered Brand ‘Yu’ for Advanced Users

    Micromax, the second biggest smartphone company in India, has some great plans for the upcoming future. Now with the intention of providing a unique user experience, the company unveiled their new brand called Yu.

    According to the company’s Yu Televentures, will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Micromax Informatics. It’s the offspring of a tie-up between Micromax and Cyanogen. Cyanogen is, of course, known world over for making one of the best custom ROM’s for Android smartphones. So this tie-up will surely mean good things for the Indian consumers.

    Micromax co-founder Rahul Sharma said “This will be a game changer, not just in India, but globally too. Yu has been envisioned for building an ecosystem of connected devices and offer customized experience to users.”

    Considering the use for a device with heavy customizability is for advanced users, the products of the brand Yu will be sold online. The company is currently in talks with e-commerce companies to pave a path for the roll out of these devices. The first device from this brand will be introduced next month.

    In line with the open source nature of Cyanogen, Yu will be setting up a forum where the users can contribute with ideas and tweaks for the operating system. The suggestions from this forum might get incorporated in the fortnightly updates. For folks who complain about the unavailability of updates on Indian manufacturers, this should be welcoming news.

  • Micromax Canvas Win W121 Review : It’s Windows Time, Or is It?

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 Review : It’s Windows Time, Or is It?

    A few domestic manufacturers have launched handsets sporting the Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS, for instance, the likes of XOLO with the launch of their Windows Phone 8.1 OS smartphone, the XOLO Win Q900s. The Redmond-based giant, Microsoft, at its Build Conference in San Francisco announced a few hardware partners for the Windows Phone platform, and you guessed it right, Micromax was one of them.

    It’s just been two months since the announcement, and Micromax has already launched the Canvas Win W121 at a relatively economical price of Rs. 9,500.

    OVERVIEW

    The Micromax Canvas Win W121 runs the latest Windows Phone 8.1 OS and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 quad-core CPU clocked at 1.2 GHz bundled with 1 GB of RAM. Priced at just under Rs. 10,000, it should have a lot of rivals in the over-crowded budget category of smartphones. Boasting a 5-inch HD IPS screen, it can be pitted against the likes of the XOLO Win Q900s, the Lumia 520 and 630 as its closest rivals.

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 1

    HARDWARE

    The Canvas Win W121 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 SoC with four cores clocked at 1.2 GHz, a chipset we are quite used to in this price segment. It has decent enough 1 GB of RAM with a 5-inch 720p HD IPS display, and a 2000mAh battery capacity. It has 8 GB internal memory expandable via microSD up to 32 GB. Connectivity options include GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Bluetooth and USB.

    Optics includes a primary 8MP camera with AF, along with a 2MP secondary cam. Specs on the phone do look good but do they translate into real-time performance. Let’s find out.

    Specifications

    Canvas Win W121

    Display 5-inch IPS LCD 1280x720p
    Processor 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 quad-core
    Storage 8 GB + microSD
    RAM 1 GB RAM
    Camera 8 MP primary camera, 2 MP front camera
    Battery 2,000 mAh
    Operating System Windows Phone 8.1

    DESIGN AND BUILD

    The Canvas Win W121 does have that niche look to it, courtesy of a leather (read: p-leather) back panel, something we saw on the Galaxy Note 3. There’s a lot of plastic on the body, which might be a turn-off for some of us, but the Canvas Win W121 is a bit sleeker and more compact than any of the Canvas’s Android counterparts.

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 9With a 5-inch screen, the device fits in the hand quite well; it is slim and makes for easy one-handed usage. The front houses three capacitive buttons with a Windows logo in the middle, which was absent in the XOLO Win Q900s. However, the capacitive buttons appear to be a tad untidy and seem like a rushed job. They don’t illuminate the way we have seen with other phones, and just lacks the finesse.

    Coming to the sides, it has a metal rig that runs throughout the phone’s entire body, with volume rockers placed on the left and the power button on the right. The keys have a nice touch feel to it. Meanwhile, both the MicroUSB and headphone jacks are located on top.

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 10As already mentioned, the rear of the phone has a premium looking leather-esque back panel with stitches around the edges, giving it a more classy appeal. It’s a neat job done on the rear of the phone, with cuts for the camera, flash and external speakers done with absolute precision along with the Micromax logo. The back panel is removable that houses the two SIM card slots, battery and the microSD slot. The phone does impress us when it comes to build quality and design.

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 13

    PERFORMANCE AND OS

    With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset clocked at 1.2 GHz bundled with a healthy enough 1GB of RAM, handling everyday usage is like a walk in the park for the Canvas Win W121. It handles multiple apps at ease without any noticeable lags. We did not see any problem using any app, they load up real quick and with Windows Phone 8.1, it allows users to run eight apps in the background. You can navigate and switch between emails, games and other apps like Facebook and WhatsApp in no time.

    Moreover, WP 8.1 not being a very power-hungry OS combined with decent hardware results in no issues in launching apps, browsing through the internet or switching apps. In our AnTuTu benchmark test for Windows, the phone managed an impressive 11, 767 points, just edging past the Lumia 630 which managed 11, 760, also surpassing the XOLO Win Q900S which scored 10, 870 in our Antutu Benchmarks.

    Model

    Antutu Benchmark

    XOLO Win Q900s 10,870
     Canvas Win W121 11,767
    Lumia 630 11,760

    High-end games like Real Racing and Asphalt 8 do give the phone a real tough time as the phone starts heating up. That said, the overall performance is quite satisfactory on the Canvas Win W121. Apart from the heating issue, these games run quite well at the highest settings; there aren’t any noticeable hiccups during performance specific stressful instances and loading time is just fine. Considering the price of the phone, this shouldn’t be much of an issue, and arcade/basic games like Subway Surfers and Temple Run look and play quite well on the phone.

    Coming to the OS, the Canvas Win W121 runs on the latest Windows Phone 8.1 OS. The OS has a neat refreshed feel to it, with those signature Live Tiles, and the new action centre that was missing with earlier version of the platform. The OS now looks much more functional and complete.

    It looks really neat and brings along a slew of nifty features with a lot of customisation options. The new Swipe keyboard feels great, Data sense and Wi-Fi sense keep a tab and look after your data and Internet usage, meanwhile Storage sense offers easy ways to organise your data.

    The phone offers dual-SIM support, and the OS offers an exclusive section to manage the SIMs along with setting the default SIM slot for calls and 3G.

    Not to forget Cortana, a real life personal assistant, who has a quirky attitude and makes interaction with the device a lot more fun. She can gather info, manage your appointments, set alarms, dictate your messages and can do a lot more. She definitely adds to the whole OS experience. (NOTE: Cortana is not available in India as of now, though users can change the phone settings to US to make it functional).

    As already mentioned, WP 8.1 as an OS does not demand a lot of the phone, so navigating and switching between apps is quite smooth. Compared to its previous iteration, WP 8.1 is a significant improvement with faster loading, a better keyboard, nice touch response and an interactive personal assistant is quite a ride.

    However, the device does not have support for apps that we saw in the Lumia range. This smartphone is devoid of popular apps like Here Maps, Nokia Music and all the camera apps.

    CAMERA

    The Canvas Win W121 has an 8MP primary camera with flash, which in our opinion should have done better. The images captured lack texture and the colour reproduction is quite lame. They appear dull and washed out which takes away the overall feel of the photos.

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 11Another issue is absence of the Nokia Camera app, users will have to rely on the default camera app. Meanwhile, the front has a 2MP snapper which just does its job. Its lens is not that wide either, which makes it quite a task to take wider selfies.

    Low light isn’t great either as the lack of OIS is apparently clear and images appear a bit shaky. We also noticed that the AF of the camera takes a very long time to focus on a particular object, which can be quite annoying at times.

    Also, there’s no support for HD recording, videos are recorded at 480p, which is quite a bummer as the chipset can support 720p recording. Finally, it will be fair to say that the camera is perhaps one of the weaker links of the phone.

    DISPLAY AND MULTIMEDIA

    The phone features a 5-inch 720p HD IPS display, which is rather brilliant with sharper texts and offers great readability in all lighting conditions. Even in well-lit conditions, the readability is quite good. Moreover, you have options to adjust brightness as per requirements. The display renders sharp colours and great viewing angles. Being a 5-inch screen, it does add to the whole experience of watching a movie or playing a game.

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 20Powered by a dual-core clocked at 1.2 GHz with 1 GB RAM, the multimedia performance of the phone is quite good. We tested Asphalt 8: Airborne and it ran absolutely well; not flawless, but there are no major lags and stutters that would take away the overall experience of the game. The phone can withstand those frame rates; though surprisingly, it could not run a 720p HD movie. The phone just could not withstand those frame rates and transitions while playing a 720p HD movie. Max resolution possible is 480p, which is a major let down.

    However, the audio performance of the phone is awesome. The phone’s external speaker is bit loud and renders good sound quality while playing games, watching a movie or listening to music, it does pack a punch. Moreover, the earphone set provided as a part of the standard accessory is also high quality, something which other OEM’s should strive for.

    PHONE, NETWORKS AND BATTERY

    The call quality of the phone is really good whether incoming or outgoing, and the signal reception is excellent indoor as well as outdoor. Coming to network, the phone latches onto the networks around at ease, thanks to a lot of plastic which has significantly improved Wi-Fi connectivity across most Micromax devices, including this one.

    Micromax Canvas Win W121 7In terms of battery backup, the Canvas Win W121 comes with a 2000mAh battery. We tested the battery on different parameters and overall, the battery performance is quite decent and could easily last a day of normal usage. It appears that the battery performance of Windows Phone is much better when compared to Android.

    CONCLUSION

    Priced around the Rs. 7,800 , the Canvas Win W121 is a decent choice if you are on a lookout for a smooth overall Windows experience without any compromise on screen size and build quality. It has some great features but completely misses out on other aspects. For instance, lack of support for HD Playback, lack of decent camera apps might make you consider other alternatives. Though, it has a solid 5-inch display and is great for everyday usage. It could have been a top-notch smartphone if some of these aspects were not missing.

    The Canvas Win W121 can compete against the likes of the Lumia 630 and the XOLO Win Q900s. Though, there are much better Android options available at the same price point.

    [tw-column width=”one-half”]

    GOOD THINGS

    • Display Size
    • Great Audio
    • Build Quality
    • Good For Everyday Use
    • Can Handle Multiple Apps
    • Windows Phone 8.1 OS

    [/tw-column]

    [tw-column width=”one-half” position=”last”]

    BAD THINGS

    • Camera
    • Lack of Popular apps
    • No Support For HD Playback
    • Lacks Support for HD Recording

    [/tw-column]

  • Lava becomes Number 2 Indian Mobile Brand, While Micromax Leads

    Lava becomes Number 2 Indian Mobile Brand, While Micromax Leads

    The emergence of Chinese companies into the Indian market has taken most of the sheen off the Indian phone makers. Even Motorola’s high specification, low priced devices have taken customers away from the Indian handset manufacturers. But with the combined strengths of feature phones and smartphones, the Indian brands have continued to grow. The companies have benefitted from the shift to smartphones in the lower segment, and their offerings are perceived as affordable. These factors have helped Lava reach the second spot on the podium amongst the Indian handset model.

    The report was published by market research venture called Cybex Exim. The company took into consideration the following handset manufacturers: Micromax, Lava, Motorola, Karbonn, Gionee, Lenovo, Spice, Intex, XOLO, Panasonic, Zen, Maxx, Videocon, Xiaomi and Lemon.

    To elaborate on their findings, Mr. Amit Gupta, Cybex Exim said, “To understand the market dynamics, we track the import shipments of various players on a daily basis. Domestic players have shown remarkable growth over the last two quarters; majorly credited to the success of Indian brands like Micromax, Lava and Karbonn. With local vendors reducing the price gap between the entry level smartphones and feature phones, usage for mid-price phones is expected to increase at a high rate. At the same time, the recent launch of Android One devices is expected to drive more volumes in the price sensitive market with many other local players geared up to introduce their devices in the coming quarter.”

    Cybex Exim’s findings is as follows:

    Volume data of Top 5 Indian players (in Mn)  July – September’14 – Cybex Exim Solutions Pvt Ltd

    Company Feature Phones Smart Phones Total Volume % Volume Share
    MICROMAX 5,058,002 3,723,445 8,781,447 31.2%
    LAVA 5,307,184 1,968,575 7,275,759 25.8%
    KARBONN 4,591,947 1,803,583 6,395,530 22.7%
    INTEX 2,542,483 965,627 3,508,110 12.5%
    SPICE 1,764,181 426,992 2,191,173 7.8%

    This has been a good year for Micromax. According to a study by Counterpoint Research, Micromax outsold Samsung in Q2 of 2014 to become India’s biggest smartphone supplier. Also, Micromax finished on the pole position of Cyber Exim’s report. The company is also taking some risks like introducing a Cyanogen-powered smartphone in the coming future.

    Lava has said that the company will be investing about 500 crores in a phased manner to set up its own manufacturing unit in India over the next couple of years. This would be a positive step towards increasing tech-based manufacturing workforce in the country.

    It’s great to see these Indian companies on a growth track. But looking at the competition they are facing against the Chinese companies, its time the companies up-ed their game. The phones need to get better in terms of specs and overall quality. The Indian companies may also want to take a leap into the flagship business and challenge the name brands.

  • Get Ready for Low-Cost Smartphones, Google Set to Launch Android One Today

    Get Ready for Low-Cost Smartphones, Google Set to Launch Android One Today

    Google will uncover the first of its series of budget smartphones under the much anticipated Android One today. This initiative gives a key set of references for hardwares to help phone manufacturers make minimal cost smartphones. The phones will be unveiled by Sundar Pichai, Google’s SVP of Android, Chrome & Apps in New Delhi.

    Google is expected to launch a range of Android One smartphones, mostly priced under Rs 6,000, via domestic online stores. These have been developed in partnership with local mobile phone manufacturers such as Micromax, Karbonn and Spice. These smartphones are expected to be loaded with top-end features such as dual core chip, 5 MP camera and 4.5-inch display.

    Indian tech market has been ruled by budget friendly and value for money devices. The company first unveiled the Android one initiative in June this year at Google’s annual I/O conference as a move to take the platform to markets where low-priced phones with fewer features and less memory are in high demand.

    android-one-540x334

    By modifying the working framework, some programming and packaging it with Google’s own service, its web search tool, Android One will help scale up the business for Google.

    Android One is tipped to be a game changer in the smartphone market, delivering a better experience to users. The race to make the least expensive smartphone pressed with specs is just going to get bigger as more companies are looking at the budget segment of the Indian market.

  • Micromax Launches Canvas Nitro A310, We Unbox it!

    Micromax Launches Canvas Nitro A310, We Unbox it!

    Recently, the Indian smartphone market has taken a toll with the arrival of the Chinese brand Xiaomi and well, the resurgence of Motorola. These companies have taken over the Indian budget-smartphone segment by giving us amazing specifications at aggressive prices.

    Micromax, the homegrown smartphone maker, is trying to get back on the horse and get a hold of the lost ground it once ruled. Today, Micromax launched a new Canvas flagship model called the Nitro A310 which will be exclusively available on Snapdeal.

    The device runs on 1.7 Ghz octa core MediaTek chipset with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal memory which is expandable upto 64GB.  The Canvas Nitro A310 is powered by 2500mAh battery.

    They’ve provided a 13MP Sony camera with f/2.2 aperture. The selfie camera has a 22mm wide angle lens with a f/2.4 aperture and ov5648 bsi sensor. On the home screen Micromax has provided 5 quick widgets – Photo, Video, Front, Back, and Stable shot. Another interesting feature they’ve provided are the in-built gestures which can be used to customise the screen and to activate apps (as demonstrated in the video). The device comes with Oleophobic coating, an anti-fingerprint layer and will come in two colour variants – white and blue. The back has a leather finish, inspired by Napa Leather.

    The Micromax Canvas Nitro A310 is available on Snapdeal for Rs. 12,990. After losing a large number of prospective buyers to the Mi3 and Moto G, now Micromax attempts to fight back.

    Specs

    Micromax Canvas Nitro A310

    Battery capacity (mAh) 2500, Removable
    Display 5 inch HD IPS Screen 1280X720px
    Processor MediaTek 1.7GHz octacore
    RAM 2GB
    Internal storage 8GB
    Rear camera 13 megapixel
    Flash Yes
    Front camera 5 MP
    Operating System Android 4.4
  • Micromax Brings Out the Canvas Knight Cameo

    Micromax Brings Out the Canvas Knight Cameo

    Indian smartphone manufacturer Micromax recently released a mini version of their Canvas Knight phone. The phone is to be known as the Canvas Knight Cameo A290. The phone will be scaled down version of its bigger sibling.

    The 4.7 inch display on the Knight Cameo has a resolution of 720p. The phone is powered by a MediaTek MT6592M chipset, which sports a 1.4 GHz “true octa-core” CPU. The internal storage on the device is 8 GB which is expandable. The phone has 1 GB of RAM.

    The main camera on the device is an 8-megapixel shooter whereas for selfies the front of the devices sports a 5 MP camera. The software comes with the options for object erasing and cinemagraphs. It is capable of full HD recording.

    Cameo comes in classy color options
    Cameo comes in classy color options

    The Knight cameo runs Android Kitkat 4.4.2 and has a 2000 mAh battery. The phone comes in Pure Black, Black and Gold, and White and Gold color options, which gives them a premium feel.

    The phone is already available on ebay.in at a price of Rs. 12,350. The phone is decently speced and it can make some good following around it. A bit stronger spec sheet in terms processor and RAM would have made it more attractive but we’re guessing they can take a risk.

  • Samsung Claim They’re Still Number One in India

    Samsung Claim They’re Still Number One in India

    Last week, we heard reports that Micromax had dethroned Samsung to become the Number 1 phone manufacturer for Q2 2014 in terms of units shipped. However, Samsung says this is not the case.

    Economic Times talked to Samsung President and Chief Executive for South-West Asia, BD Park. He claims that these reports are false. He admitted that sales had decreased in the past quarter, and that the Galaxy S5 did not sell as well as they had predicted. Nevertheless, the company still met its targets, and according to their internal data, still controls more than 50% of the Indian market with more than double the sales of the alleged market leaders, Micromax.

    Park further went on to say that “there was some business motive behind the release of such kind of data”, directly pointing the finger at Micromax for releasing false information as a media stunt to increase sales. These are some very serious allegations, and we will have to wait and see if any of these hold true.

    The earlier reports were prepared by Hong-Kong based independent firm called Counterpoint Technology Market Research, allegedly being based on “thorough channel checks in terms of sales.” However, CyberMedia Research (CMR) said that while the Korean company was still the leader, the gap between the two had narrowed sharply.

    By Pranav Arora

  • Micromax Outsells Samsung to Become India’s No.1 Mobile Vendor

    Micromax Outsells Samsung to Become India’s No.1 Mobile Vendor

    Micromax has overtaken Samsung to become the largest mobile phone supplier in India in Q2 2014, according to independent market research and consulting firm, CounterPoint Research.

    As per the report, Micromax’s handset shipments share was 16.6% in the quarter while Samsung’s share was 14.4%.  This is the first time that Samsung has been usurped from the pole position. Nokia was at the third position with a 10.9% shipments share, followed by domestic brands Karbonn and Lava which had a 9.5% and 5.6% share, respectively.

    Rank India Handset Shipment Share(%) Q2 2014(%age)
    1 Micromax 16.6%
    2 Samsung 14.4%
    3 Nokia 10.9%
    4 Karbonn 9.5%
    5 Lava 5.6%
    6 Others 43%
    Total 100%

    Micromax also became the leading feature phone supplier overtaking Nokia for the first time. Micromax became the 10th largest handset brand globally in terms of mobile phone shipment volumes in the quarter and has 2.3% market share. This is the first time Micromax enters into the top 10 rankings.

    micromax win 14

    After a highly disappointing launch of the Samsung S5, things continue to get from bad to worse for Samsung as  Micromax overtook Samsung to become leading mobile phone supplier brand in India in Q2 2014 . It will be interesting to observe how Samsung will retaliate and what stratergy they will employ  to regain the Number 1 position they have held so proudly in the past.

    At the same time Micromax through its rigorous publicity and successful launch of the Canvas Series have taken this throne from Samsung. KUDOS to Micromax!

  • #LetsTalkShop : Shubhodip Pal talks Micromax Mobile

    #LetsTalkShop : Shubhodip Pal talks Micromax Mobile

    An Indian company that a few years ago not spoken of, a brand that most would not associate with, and a manufacturer that was looked down upon, today is one of the most prominent names in the market. It’s never easy when you are talking to the game changers, but the conversation always turns out to be amazing.

    This week on #LetsTalkShop a lot is revealed about Micromax. Shobhodip Pal, who is the CMO of Micromax India, delves deep into the problems faced by the company, the relationships within and outside the organisation.

    Shubhodip has been with Micromax for 19+ months and has seen, while being instrumental; the company emerge as one of the biggest names in the Indian smartphone and mobile race. One of the busiest men in the organisation Shubhodip always is pepped on energy and throughout the discussion was energised.

    According to Shubhodip, Micromax has always and will continue to deliver platforms that they feel the market is ready for. After Android, Micromax felt that the time is right for Windows Phone and once the partnership was announced at the build conference, Micromax was ready to build windows phones and recently delivered the two most important products in the line up.

    The company is working on many more products in the lineup of Windows Phone, as this is not a one off for the company, he said.

    [quote text_size=”small” author=”Shubhodip Pal” author_title=”CMO, Micromax”]

    Put it on Record! We will have a 6 inch Windows Phone in the coming months and will many more phones that you will hear about soon.

    [/quote]

    shubhodip side

    Micromax has usually ignored Software updates, however; the company is working on rolling out software updates for all their recent phones and promises quick updates going forward thanks to a new software development team that has been assigned.

    [quote text_size=”small” author=”Shubhodip Pal” author_title=”CMO, Micromax”]

    Micromax is working hard to roll out Software updates for most of its models July onwards, with the help of a dedicated team.

    [/quote]

    The company is also planning to set up software update kiosks across the country, where people can bring in their phones for 30-40 minutes and get an updated phone back. While it seems a little ambitious, Micromax is keen on delivering this and changing the now negative chatter around updates to a positive one.

    For reaching as far as he has Shubodip, asks that you remain persistent and are not scared to roll up your sleeves. Are willing to go out of your way to make your organisation shine, and you will grow once you start to believe in the organisation.

    The full interview is a must watch so head over to the video for the juicy bits.

  • Canvas Win W121 Vs Lumia 630 : The ‘Windows’ War

    Canvas Win W121 Vs Lumia 630 : The ‘Windows’ War

    Micromax’s much talked about association with Microsoft took a huge leap with the launch of two new phones in its Canvas Win series; W092 and W121. Considering W121’s price tag (INR 9,500) and Windows phone 8.1 OS, it is expected to give a hard time to Nokia’s newly launched Lumia 630.

    Lumia 630 is equipped with impressive quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz in comparison to W121’s mediocre 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200. People who love to use apps on their phones may have some problems with Lumia 630’s 512MB RAM against W121’s 1GB.

    Canvas Win W121 fashions an 8MP rear snapper with LED flash and also a front-facing 2MP front-camera for selfies and video conferencing while in Lumia 630 front camera is missing, and it has a 5MP rear camera with auto-focus but no flash.

    Considering the present state of the company, I personally won’t recommend Nokia Lumia 630. Furthermore, Canvas Win121 is a better option while comparing both. Canvas Win121 definitely provides you with better feature and performance

     

    Specifications

    Nokia Lumia 630

    Micromax Canvas Win W121

    General
    • Battery capacity (mAh): 1830
    • Colours: Bright Green, Bright Orange, Black, White
    • Form factor: Touchscreen
    • Battery capacity (mAh): 2000
    • Colours: Black
    DISPLAY
    • Screen size (inches): 4.50
    • Touchscreen: Yes
    • Resolution: 480×854 pixels
    • Screen size (inches): 5.00
    • Touchscreen: Yes
    • Resolution: 720×1280 pixels
    CAMERA
    • Rear camera: 5-megapixel
    • Flash: No
    • Front camera:No
    • Rear camera: 8-megapixel
    • Flash: Yes
    • Front camera: 2-megapixel
    RAM
    512MB 1GB
    Processor
    1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200
    Internal Storage
    8GB 8GB
    Software
    Operating System: Windows Phone 8.1 Operating System: Windows Phone 8.1
  • Exclusive : 7 Micromax Windows Phone Devices in the Coming Months

    Exclusive : 7 Micromax Windows Phone Devices in the Coming Months

    Recently Micromax was  in the news for rumors around a Windows Phone device, well turns out they are not only true but there is more to the game. Sources close to iGyaan and top brass at Micromax confirm that not only is the company working on launching windows phone handsets, they will launch handsets ranging from Rs. 7000 and up to Rs. 25000 effective.

    These 7 to 8 handsets will be launched within the next few months, and Microsoft is said to be pushing for the quick release and promotion of the handsets. There is long term tie up between Micromax and Microsoft, and the redmond based computing giant is interested in cross promoting the products for which Micromax has been well funded by Microsoft.

    Sources also tell us that both companies have invested in design and most of the Micromax Windows Phones will be seen with a unibody design, with a lot of help provided by designers and engineers from Nokia. As of today, apart from Nokia no other manufacturer is manufacturing Windows Phone handsets as a global product. Micromax Windows Phones will be sold in India and overseas in existing Micromax markets.

    Micromax has been eyeing the Windows Phone market since the beginning of the operating system, and the first positive step was the announcement of the Indian manufacturer as a partner at the Microsoft Build conference earlier this year.

    New Micromax CEO Vineet Taneja will host the first round of launches of Micromax Windows Phone devices in the coming week, which might see more than one Windows Phone device from Micromax being launched. The flagship phone from the Indian manufacturer is said to have a 5 inch 1920 x 1080p display, 2GB RAM, a 13 MP + 5 MP camera combination, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset and is said to be priced at Rs. 25000 for a 16GB storage and expandability via micro SD.

    Windows-8-Surface-Phone-Compass-Concept1.jpg_www.EpicWpp.com_1-960x540

    Micromax’s flagship is expected to have a  metal unibody design with Dual Sim capabilities and micro SD card expansion via sim tray style slots, as seen in the HTC One M8. The design of the phone is also said to mimic the HTC lineage with round edges and unibody structure.

    We won’t know what will actually unfold until the new CEO announces the handsets, however it looks like the budget game might get really interesting going forward.

    [poll id=”2″]

  • Micromax Enters Big Boy Territory With a Windows Phone

    Micromax Enters Big Boy Territory With a Windows Phone

    The biggest Indian mobile company is having quite a good year. According to several leads, Micromax has just decided to cross the Rs. 20K point and enter into the premium segment with a Windows phone. Microsoft identified Micromax as one of its hardware partners at its build conference.

    The phone is reported to be have a 5-inch full HD 1080p screen. The battery stands at 2600 MaH. It is expected to be priced around 23,000-25,000 INR.

    In a first for Micromax, the Smartphone will be powered by Snapdragon 800 chipset with 2GB RAM. It will run Windows 8.1 operating system.

    The main camera is a 13 megapixel shooter with LED flash. The selfie shooter is a 5 megapixel camera. The phone will have 16 GB of internal memory expandable to 64 GB which is a welcome step.

    The specs look pretty impressive for a Micromax Windows phone. We hope to bring you a hands on review, as soon as we can, to tell you if it’s worth the glitter.

    [poll id=”2″]

    P.S: We would like to Thank AmitAgarwal2 for bring the update on the leak on this Story. The source on twitter Leakster Inc has stated that the Snapdragon device and the Windows phone are two different devices. As this is still a leak story we won’t confirm anything yet but we appreciate AmitAgarwal2 for being an awesome IGyaani .

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