Finnish company Jolla is interested to expand in the Indian market. The company is looking for Indian partners who is interested in developing smartphones powered by its Sailfish operating system. ”We are looking for local players for using Sailfish OS. Android is dominant in the market but we feel users should have a choice. We would want to expand the market for Sailfish OS,” Jolla co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Marc Dillon told PTI. The company claims that its OS offers a differentiated user experience compared to Android and other operating systems.
The company has launched its first handset in India with e-Commerce site Snapdeal for Rs 16,499. The Jolla handset features 4.5-inch IPS display, 1.4GHz dual core Qualcomm processor, 8 MP rear and 2 MP front camera, 1 GB RAM and 16 GB storage. It has a distinct button-less design, gesture-based user experience and is compatible with Android applications.
Handset makers like Oppo, Gionee and Xiaomi have entered Indian smartphone market, as it is one of the world’s fastest growing smartphone market. According to research firm IDC, smartphone shipment to India grew 3-fold to over 44 million units last year. ”India is the biggest growing market in the world. Also, Online shopping is taking off in a big way. India is therefore a crucial market for us,” Dillion said.
Snapdeal Senior Vice President Tony Navin said, ”this is one smartphone that a lot of people in India have been waiting for. With its independent and distinctive Sailfish OS, gesture-based user experience and Android application compatibility, Jolla offers a great alternative for smartphone users looking for something new and different.”