XOLO’s HIVE UI to take on Xiaomi’s MIUI

Xolo, a brand of homegrown handset manufacturer Lava International, has launched HIVE, a custom UI which will run on its parallelly unveiled XOLO 8X-1000, priced at Rs 13,999, and compete with the likes of recently launched Xiaomi's Mi3 smartphones.

The interface has been designed in sync with Android. Although, Hive will be available on the new model of XOLO, the company plans to roll out the same on other devices in the next 6-7 months. But the OS will not be integrated on the existing devices of the company.

"We want to stabilize the platform and engage the users before taking it to the next level," said Sunil Raina, business head, XOLO (which is a Lava international brand).

Vishal Sehgal, co-founder and director, LAVA International, said: "Built on an Android core, HIVE is a "Made in India, Made for India" platform designed by our Software Design Centre at Bangalore."

China-based Xiaomi launched its Mi 3 smartphones with MIUI platform in India a fortnight ago and it is witnessing huge demand with over 20,000 units being sold out so far.

Priced at Rs 13,999, the phone has been a success in China due to its Android-based platform MIUI (Mobile Internet User Interface), which is a live operating system constantly improving with frequent software updates.

Xolo's interface has been personalized with a host of features including CONNECT and EDGE.

CONNECT gives the opportunity for the users to share new ideas and collaborate with like-minded technology enthusiasts. The best ideas that are voted up by the community are chosen by the development team, which are then rolled out as OTA updates. The feature also allows users to report bugs and find service centers.

EDGE on the other hand brings creative community closer to users. It provides a platform for the emerging artists in various genres to design exclusive content as themes, ringtones and wallpapers. XOLO has partnered with a set of niche Indian designers to create a range of themes for consumers to choose from.

HIVE comes pre-loaded on XOLO 8X-1000, which is powered by True Octa-Core processor, 2 GB RAM with 16 GB onboard ROM memory(expandable up to 32GB),8MP Exmor R^TM sensor rear camera and 2MP front cameraand a 5" HD display.

XOLO 8X-1000 with HIVE Inside will be sold across XOLO authorized retail outlets in India from the next week onwards.