Lava launches world's first 'Alpha Keypad' phone

In an attempt to redefine and revolutionize the mobile phone market, Lava Mobiles has launched the world's first Alpha Keypad phone with its new range of handsets Lava B5 and Lava B2.Unlike the multi-tap and QWERTY keypads, Alpha keypads are arranged in the alphabetical sequence of ABCDE.... The new series is conceptualized to make texting easier and faster for those who are not comfortable in using both hands for texting and also provides a user-friendly experience to increase adaptability of business phones at faster pace.

Both the B2 and the B5 feature a 2.2” TFT screen having resolutions of 220×176 and 320×240 pixels respectively. Another feature common to them is dual SIM card support, FM Radio and Blue tooth. While, the B2 has some additional goodies like dual memory card support, powerful tin led torch and mobile tracker.

The specifications of the B5 model include, 2 mega pixels camera, MP4 music player, 8 GB expandable, Micro SD card and 3.5 mm audio jack. The phone also carries other usual features including video, video player in different formats, FM radio, SMS, MMS, emailing and has USB port.

Lava's B5 and B2 handsets with Alpha Keypads targets the consumer who crave for a business class and smart phones but not not comfortable with the Querty Kepads.

The QWERTY keypads enables user to use both thumbs to rapidly type in the words without waiting for a few seconds to lapse just like in the regular handset models.

While the rest of the world has already acquainted QWERTY layouts , the innovation of Alpha keypad is definitely a small step towards India being the epicenter for such feature rich mobile manufacturing.

As the last couple of years have seen Indian companies like Micromax, Lemon Mobiles to mark its presence on the global platform in terms of VAS and feature applications giving a tough fight to established and global players.

According to Voice&Data100 survey, Nokia's revenue market share in India dipped from 64% in 2008-09 to 52.2% in 2009-10, while Indian brands had a 14% market share in 2009-10, up from about 3 to 4 per cent in the previous year.

This is the first ever time, any mobile handset player has been able to offer an option to make life simple for a large segment of mobile users, who were unfamiliar with existing keypads.

Though this new innovation is claiming to steer clean of the traditional Qwerty keypads but main question is, will it pull a larger segment of users or only a small chunk will opt for it.

ritus@cybermedia.co.in