Bharti unveils 2.4 Ghz cordless phones

Following the delicensing of the 2.4-2.48 Ghz band, the country's largest fixed line phones manufacturer Bharti Teletech on Tuesday launched six new cordless models in 2.4 Ghz band and said it is targeting to sell one million such phones in the next two years.

The phones are priced in the range of Rs 1,995-Rs 4,995.

"Bharti Teletech is the first company to launch 2.4 Ghz range of cordless phones which will offer voice clarity and up to three times better range in comparison to the current CT-0 technology-based phones," Rakesh Bharti Mittal, vice chairman and managing director, Bharti Teletech, told reporters in New Delhi.

Under ideal conditions, the 2.4 Ghz cordless phones will offer clear voice in a range of 300 metres and 100 metres indoors without any interference, he said, adding that five more models would be launched later.

The new models include three each from Beetel of Bharti Teletech and three GE brands.

The company also plans to beef up its retail presence and will add 200 plus retail outlets to take them to 10,000 by March 2005 and also up its distributors to 245.

Mittal said the introduction of 2.4 Ghz band cordless phones should give a major boost to fixed line telephony.

Bharti Teletech has a strategic alliance with Atlinks, a Thompson arm, to manufacture fixed line phones for global export and exclusively market and distribute GE range of fixed phones in India.

With the launch of the 2.4 Ghz range, the company plans to attain an over 60 per cent marketshare of cordless phones.

Nicolas Zenz, head, global sales, Atlinks, said the introduction of 2.4 Ghz range of cordless phones under GE brand stands testimony to our growing partnership and reinforces our belief in Bharti Teletech as the most preferred manufacturing company in India.

"The introduction of this range of technologically advanced phones will further enhance the overall product experience," Mittal said. -- PTI

Rakesh Bharti Mittal (L), vice chairman and managing director of Bharti Teletech, and Nicolas Zentz, head of sales for Atlinks Worldwide, display the newly launched 2.4 GHz band cordless phone range in New Delhi on Tuesday.  Photo: Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images