Software and mobile handset major Microsoft is in advanced talks with Indian operators processing 4G licences and will bring their 4G-enabled devices once operators are prepared with their high speed broadband, according to company sources.
"We are in advanced talks with operators as in this mature, we will bring our devices in India," Microsoft Smart Devices IMEA Head, Vipul Mehrotra told The Pioneer.
Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Jio Infocomm and Idea cellular have bought spectrums in 1800 MHz bands to offer 4G services in India. As of now only Bharti Airtel is offering 4G in selected circles with Bangalore being the only city with 4G voice services.
Meanwhile Microsoft launched its first dual-SIM lumia smartphone for Rs 11,500.
The new phone from Microsoft Devices, which operates the handset business acquired from Nokia last month for over $7.2 billion, will compete with dual-SIM models such as Moto G, HTC Desire and Samsung Duos.
Taking forward the "cloud first, mobile first" strategy outlined by India-born Microsoft chief Satya Nadella, lumia 630 will sport features like Microsoft's Office and OneDrive, a cloud storage facility through which documents, photos and music can be accessed via the Internet.
"lumia is our principal smartphone strategy. lumia phones will come with Nokia's promise of quality packed with Microsoft's services like OneDrive, Office 365 and others. lumia 630 opens a new avenue for affordable smartphones for us," said P Balaji, Managing Director of Nokia India, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobiles Oy.
The single-SIM variant will be available for Rs 10,500.
Citing analysts, he said about 80 per cent of the smartphones sold under Rs 12,000 in India are dual SIM.
In April, Devices Group EVP Stephen Elop had explained that dual-SIM capability is "critically important" in emerging markets like India and China and noted that in 2016, people will buy more than 100 million dual-SIM smartphones.
Currently, the cheapest model in the lumia range is the 520, priced at around Rs 8,400.
Asked if more affordable devices would be brought out under the lumia range, Balaji said the firm would "continue to test newer price points."
Powered by the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, the lumia 630 features a 4.5-inch display and 5 megapixel auto-focus camera. It has built-in low power sensors for health apps such as pedometers.The Moto G, HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy Duos are all priced under Rs12,000 and have done well in the affordable smartphone market in India.