Idea launches mobile: Blade and id280

Idea cellular has launched 2 android budget phones Blade and id280. Blade will cost around 7992 Rs and id280 is available for rs 5850/- these phones if you see are relatively cheaper compared to other phones in the market, they feature wifi, 3g, bluetooth and also the phone can be used as a wifi router. These phones will be available in all cirlces except Punjab, Orissa and JK.

The phone is not branded by Idea, it means there is no idea logo on it nor is it compulsory to have an idea connection, its an unlocked phone that can be used with any network. But with idea you get some extra freebies worth 3500 rs, 25rs talktime, free idea tv subscription for 3 months, 1GB per month free data for 3 months, for the 3g package the user will have to pay an extra 259.

Whats interesting is that idea here is just retailing the phone as a normal retailer, the focus is not bundling.. the bundling is just a secondary strategy the primary goal seems like they are building an alternate revenue channel. And as you know how the trend catches fast among telecom players, if one company is doing something sooner or later all other begins to do the same, so there is a good possibility that all phone companies might end up being a gadget retailer. We have seen the trend pickup recently with each operator bundling offers with phones, this could be the natural next step.

below are the brief of phone specifications
Blade :
Screen size 3.5”,Camera 3.2 Mega Pixel, OS Android 2.2, 3G HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, GPS, Capacitive Touch
,Video Camera,Wi-Fi,  Memory Expandable to 32 GB, Chipset Qualcom , Gravity Sensor

id280

Screen size 2.8”, Camera 3.2 Mega Pixel, OS Android 2.2, 3G HSDPA 7.2 Mbps, GPS , Capacitive Touch , Video Camera ,Wi-Fi ,Expandable to 32 GB, Chipset Qualcom, Gravity Sensor

more details here