E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, JUN 08 -

Phones powered by Android operating system (OS) have become the centre of attraction among domestic smartphone users. Traders say Android smartphones are selling like hot cakes and with every passing day its appeal is getting stronger.

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an OS, middleware and key applications. The software is developed by Google Inc and is currently the world’s best-selling smartphone platform. Leading manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Olive, Spice and HTC, among others, use Android on their phones.

Although it has been quite a sometime since the Android OS came into use in the international market, it was launched in the domestic market just a couple of months ago. “It has not been so long since we brought Samsung mobile phones running the Android OS.

However, our current sales stand at 1,500 handsets every month,” said Pushkal Khatiwada, marketing manager at International Marketing Services, authorised distributor of Samsung mobile handsets.

International Marketing Services currently features three variants—ACE, POP and SL—in the Samsung Galaxy series. Priced at Rs 27,999, the SL comes with a five mega-pixel camera, expandable memory up to 32GB, one gigahertz processor. The multi-touch ACE is available for Rs 27,999, while the Pop that features social hub is priced at Rs 15,590.

CG Electronics, authorised distributor of LG handsets, currently features four variants of the LG Optimus series running Android OS—the Optimus One, 2X, Black and Mini. Priced at Rs 49,999, the Optimus 2X comes with an expandable memory up to 32 GB and full HD video recording capability. “The Optimus 2X features a dual-core processor,” said Ramesh Shrestha, general manager of CG Electronics. “This is the first smartphone to feature a dual-core processor.”

While the Optimus Black can be purchased for Rs 39,999, one has to pay Rs 22,499 and Rs 15,999 for the Optimus One and Optimus mini, respectively.

Call Mobility, authorised distributor of Motorola, has featured Motorola XT5 and Defy. These handsets are water proof and fitted with gorilla glass screen—known for its strength. The company has priced the XT5 at Rs 28,900 and the Defy at Rs 17,490.

The handset from Spice running Android OS is priced at Rs 12,500. The company claims that it is the cheapest Android smartphone in the domestic market. Olive has priced its handset powered by the software at Rs 17,300, according to Mally Brothers, authorised distributor of Olive.

The main advantage of smartphones running on the Android platform is customers can get a wide variety of applications from the Android market. “More than 70 percent of applications available the Android market can be downloaded for free,” said Khatiwada.  “Users are required to pay for some exclusive software.”

Software developers from around the globe can feature their applications in the Android market. Charges depend on developers. If they charge money, they should share the profit with Google. The Android market currently boasts more than 200,000 applications.

Posted on: 2011-06-08 09:10

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