Rs 9,900 Xenitis PC launched!

Kolkata-based IT company Xenitis Infotech on Tuesday unveiled a branded computer at a price of Rs 9,990 and plans to come up with the country's first PC components manufacturing unit at a cost of Rs 250 crore (Rs 2.50 billion) by May 2005.

"With a vision to take technology at the doorsteps of the common man, we are offering desktop PC at Rs 9,990," Xenitis director Santunu Ghosh said launching the 'Apna PC' brand for northern India.

The launch of a branded PC at less than Rs 10,000 assumes importance as it is half the price of other branded PCs.

However, Xenitis has used the cheaper variety of Cyrix-based chip platform as against the better known Intel or AMD-based platforms used by other companies.

The company is offering a basket of high-end models, including laptops to suit customers needs that would help the company to grab 25 per cent of the total domestic PC market, he said.

With 'Apna PC', Xenitis is expected to give the unorganised players a run for their money.

Xenitis also has an entire range of PCs starting from AMD to Intel both in 15 and 17 monitors.

The 15-inch monitors come with 128 MB RAM, 40 GB HDD, 52X CD ROM, 1.44 MB FDD, 56.6 kbps internal modem and speakers with woofer.

The 17-inch monitors have 256 MB RAM, 80 GB HDD, DVD-Combo, 1.44 MB FDD, 56.6 kbps internal modem, and 5.1 speakers.

The sector comprises almost 50 per cent of the total Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) Indian computer market that is growing at 30 per cent annually.

Xenitis has tied up with Chinese PC component major Unitek Computers Company to come up with a computer components manufacturing unit at a cost of Rs 250 crore by May this year in Hoogly district of West Bengal, Ghosh said.

The company will produce components like computer cases, SMPS, media chips and peripherals like keyboard, mouse, CD Rom drives and speakers.

In the first phase, the company has invested Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) and will employ about 2,000 people. In the next year, it would increase the workforce to 4,000 when the next round of investment of Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.50 billion) would be implemented.

Xenitis also has an entire range of PCs starting from AMD to Intel both in 15 and 17 monitors.

The 15-inch monitors come with 128 MB RAM, 40 GB HDD, 52X CD ROM, 1.44 MB FDD, 56.6 kbps internal modem and speakers with woofer.

The 17-inch monitors have 256 MB RAM, 80 GB HDD, DVD-Combo, 1.44 MB FDD, 56.6 kbps internal modem, and 5.1 speakers.

The company is also planning to export PCs to the Middle East and the SAARC region.

Ghosh said the company has plans to launch music systems which would be manufactured at the same factory in West Bengal.

Xenitis director Tathagata Dutta said the manufacturing facility will also supply components to other PC makers in the country.

A profit sharing of 70:30 has been reached for the new manufacturing company Xenitis Unitek.

However, the entire capital investment has been provided by Xenitis alone.