South Asia's largest mobile expo kicks off

New Delhi -- South Asia's biggest exhibition on mobile telephony - Mobile Asia 2006 - showcasing a host of cellular companies from India and abroad was inaugurated by Home Minister Shivraj Patil here Friday.

"Mobile industry in India is growing exponentially and these exhibitions provide a potential platform for the companies as well as consumers," Patil told reporters here.

The three-day exhibition, held at the Pragati Maidan, showcases handsets of various shapes, sizes and colours ranging from Rs.1,500 to Rs.85,000.

"Currently the mobile retail environment is very fragmented. So the objective of the expo is to bring together all the domestic and multinational companies under one roof and throw them open to the consumers who can have a feel of the products and accordingly decide," Pankaj Mohindroo, national president of Indian Cellular Association (ICA) told IANS.

One can find mobile phones of all sorts here, ranging from the world's slimmest phone to one having television facilities in it.

"In India the potential market for mobile phones is too huge, and everyone wants to stay in touch," said Sunil Dutt, director (sales) Nokia and also co-chairman, Mobile Asia.

"Exhibitions like these help us not only understand the consumer's needs but also how we should improve."

A special shopping street has been also set up where one can buy their favourite handsets along with attractive prices and promotional schemes.

"All sorts of people are coming to this exhibition. There are people from Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad as well," said Mohindroo.

The exhibition will also feature many special events including one called "Evolution of Handsets".