Indkal Technologies has inked a licensing agreement with Acer Incorporated, clearing the path for the Taiwanese electronics giant to enter India's smartphone market. Indkal will introduce a wide range of made-in-India smartphone devices under the Acer brand by mid-2024, intending to corner a “significant market share”.

“This strategic deal marks the introduction of Acer-branded smartphones into the Indian market,” Bengaluru-headquartered Indkal said in a media statement Thursday.

The Acer-branded smartphones are expected to cost between Rs 15,000 and Rs 50,000 and will have powerful features, cutting-edge technology, and modern software technologies, according to Indkal. These devices will be available for purchase in both e-commerce and traditional retail shops across the country.

Analysts said Acer's debut into the intensely competitive Indian smartphone market is strategic for the brand and may make a dent, but its long-term viability is unclear given the company's lack of experience in this area.

“Acer has traditionally enjoyed a strong brand salience in the India PC market. Entering the smartphone market would be strategic for Acer, particularly in the value-for-money smartphone segment (priced between Rs 7,000 to Rs 25,000),” said Amit Sharma, Senior Analyst - Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CyberMedia Research (CMR).