Gartner predicts sale of 231 million handsets in India by 2012

Sales of mobile handsets in India will see a rise, and a bold one at that through the next year, confirms a report put together by Gartner. Through 2011, India witnessed the sales of as many as 213 million mobile handsets, and come 2012, mobile handset sales in the country will take an 8.5 percent jump taking the sales figures to an impressive 231 million. The report further reveals that the Indian mobile market is in times of great competition, and there are as many as 150 manufactures out there jostling for space and visibility. 

Going mobile! (Image credit: Getty Images)

Nokia and Samsung have both been touted as the leading players in the market in India, followed by G'Five, Karbonn Mobiles and Micromax in the third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively in the Q3 of 2011. The report further states that India makes up for 12 percent of the total mobile phone sales, globally and the fact that the market is huge, in terms of potential customers, adds up significantly. The Indian mobile market is an open market. Simply put, unlike elsewhere in the world, mobile handsets in India are sold sans any cellular connection, thus giving it the significant title of being a viable market.

The Gartner report reveals that, "The market is also supported by many local manufacturers. Mobile manufacturers also are competing against many brands in the black markets who are selling without invoices." Interestingly, though, it has been confirmed that the onus of heating up the competition in the mobile market in India can be given to the entry and subsequent rise of handset brands targeting the low-end, value conscious consumers.

The report pegged the average selling price of a mobile handset in India at $45 (Rs.2,327) approx., and as many as 75 percent of the masses prefer mobile phones costing less that $75 (Rs.3,879). Of the total device sales reported in India, smartphones contributed to 6 percent in the first three quarters of 2011, and this number will further grow to 8 percent in 2012.