Weak demand, slow retailer uptake may pose challenges to smartphone firms

New Delhi: Spurring sales during the upcoming festive season may prove to be a challenge for smartphone brands, as several of them are staring at a huge inventory leftover from the first half due to low demand and facing slow uptake of products by retailers, said industry executives and analysts.

Handset makers are testing waters with discounts on older models and launching new ones ahead of schedule to see how they are received by the market, executives said. Some brands are also moving to a shorter lifecycle of products to keep their portfolio fresh for the festive period.