Homegrown firms enter budget smartphone market as memory chip prices rise

Kolkata: India’s budget smartphone market is set for a fresh wave of homegrown challengers as a sharp surge in memory chip prices forced global players to pare their presence in the sub-Rs 20,000 segment, creating an opening for the local companies.

After wearable brands Mivi and Boltt entered the sub-Rs 15,000 smartphone market through Flipkart, rivals Noise, boAt and GoBoult are also exploring entry into the category and holding discussions with e-commerce marketplaces, three senior industry executives said.