Apple’s iPhone might be selling like hot cakes in the markets world over ,but when it comes to India it might be a different story altogether.For one the mobile majors such as Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson are taking the largest growing mobile market in the world very seriously and are ready with a  range of  products including touchscreen and music capable handsets in India to counter the charm of Apple's iPhone.

Handset manufacturers have already worked out their strategies  to be ready in time for  the challenge from the  iPhone. Motorola has already in its kitty a number of  smart phones launched in India .The company recently launched  ROKR E8 in India. Being touted as a music phone, it has features such as FastScroll navigation wheel and  uses touchscreen  technology that transforms the device from a phone to a music player in one touch.Besides the company has other touchscreen phones including the MOTOMING A1200 and MOTOROKR E6.

Sony Ericsson is also slated to launch many  new models in the top end  segment. Some of the forthcoming launches include  X1i which would be a touchscreen phone with Qwerty keyboard and GPS features under its Xperia series.The company has just launched the walkman W 902 phones .

But it is Nokia which would be the company to watch for as it is the global leader 40 per cent of the international mobile market share.One strategies is ofcourse to launch a range of new  touchscreen products.The company has already rolled out 13 million converged devices in the second quarter of 2008.But none of the touchscreen phones provide the convergence of various media as compared to iPhone.

Hence we may expect something entirely new offering from Nokia.But one thing that nokia may follow is to cut the prices of its existing smartphones drastically and thus to counterbalance iPhone challenge more effectively.Another strategy will be to tie itself with some service providers for offering various products just as Apple has been doing . 

Deepa B Sayal,ITvoirNetwork