New Delhi, May 24: Smartphone maker BlackBerry has come out with easy monthly installments in India on smartphones like BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Curve 9220. For this the Canadian handset maker has tied up with credit card providers including Axis Bank, Citibank, HDFC bank, HSBC, ICICI Bank, Kotak, SBI Card and Standard Chartered.
BlackBerry's decision to offer an EMI scheme comes after Samsung and Nokia started selling their smartphones on staggered installment basis.
Apple had earlier said it will offer Rs 7,777 cash back to customers who were willing to exchange their existing smartphone for the iPhone 5. Under the scheme, the consumers have to pay some amount of the handset upfront and rest in easy installments.
Similarly, Samsung has rolled out a monthly equated monthly installment (EMI) scheme in India, offering 15 percent cashback for the flagship Galaxy range with zero per cent financing. The offer is available with both ICICI Bank and Standard Chartered. The devices offered under the scheme include the Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Grand, Galaxy Tab 2, and the Galaxy Camera. At the same time, the company has started a new zero-interest EMI scheme for consumers to experience and avail the slim, sleek and stylish Galaxy S4 smartphone.
In a price sensitive market like India, rolling out such EMI schemes should come as a welcome move b the Korean handset marker. The S4 was launched at an MRP of Rs 41,500, while the real purchase price could be Rs 40,000 or less, depending upon the retailers' operating margins.
"The EMI scheme, being offered by ICICI and Standard Chartered, is working well for us and we'll continue with it, " said Asim Warsi, Vice-President , Samsung Mobile India.
BlackBerry too feels that the idea of availing the premium experience of BlackBerry Z10 or Curve 9220 by paying a nominal EMI per month is lucrative and will definitely attract potential customers.
The Canadian firm has also tied up with Idea Cellular where the telco's customers can avail one-year unlimited data plan at Rs 999 in eight circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
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