Acer branded smartphones made by Indkal Technologies to be launched in India
Bengaluru-based startup Indkal Technologies on Thursday announced that it has signed a licensing agreement to launch Acer-branded smartphones in India. The Taiwanese consumer electronics company would re-enter the Indian smartphone market, years after its smartphone business shut down. The development comes after Indkal raised $36 million (roughly Rs. 300 crore) in a Series A funding round led by Mauritius-based Aries Opportunities Fund last month.
Acer smartphones return to Indian market
As part of the deal, Indkal will design, manufacture and distribute Acer-branded smartphones across the country. According to the companies, they will launch “a wide range of smartphones” between Rs. 15,000-Rs. 50,000. However, it will not be taking on the players in the budget smartphone market, but instead will introduce options in the mid-range segment that is already flooded with options from various Indian and international manufacturers.
This will see the company compete with brands like Oppo, Vivo, Tecno and OnePlus, as well as giants like Xiaomi and Samsung – all of which have a strong presence in the Indian smartphone market.
“We are pleased that Indkal Technologies will continue this mission in India by delivering a wide range of Acer-branded smartphones that expand end-user choices and enrich their experience in the Indian market,” said Jade Zhou, Vice President of Global Strategic Alliances at Acer Inc.
The smartphones will be manufactured in India, in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and will have ‘advanced software technologies’. According to Indkal, it has a production target of one million units per year. It is also said to be applying for the smartphone production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
In a statement, Anand Dubey, CEO of Indkal Technologies, said: “These well-designed devices offer exceptional value with advanced hardware and software. We are confident that consumers will appreciate the quality and innovation synonymous with the Acer brand.”
Acer-branded smartphones will go on sale across e-commerce platforms and offline stores in the country. Notably, this is the second collaboration between the Taiwanese tech giant and the Indian startup, following the launch of Acer-branded smart TVs in India in 2021.
