Millennium launches laptops

Millennium Automa-tion and systems Ltd, a strong player in the corporate and
govern-ment sector in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh has launched its range of
laptops for the retail segment. Christened ‘Legend’, ‘Torpedo’ and ‘Thun-der’,
they will cater to the com-plete spectrum of the lap-top market, priced between
Rs 50,500 to Rs 73,995.

This launch has come in quick succession with the announcement of the
manufa-cturing facilities in Jammu.

Virender Singh Jawanda, MD, Millennium Automation and Systems Ltd said,
"Launch of the laptops signifies our sincere commitment to the IT world
that we are in market as a stable contender for the rest of the brands such as
HCL and Zenith." Talking about the fut-ure he said that Millennium plans to
become a strong hard-ware player like Zenith by the end of 2004. "Zenith is
present where we are not, but I feel our USP of an international product quality
with a great after-sales service infrastructure and competitive pricing will
bring us good results," he added.

In the first phase, it has launched its laptops in eastern India and now
wants to have extensive marketing regime for the rest of the India. "We are
planning to have launches in Lucknow, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad
after the successful launch in Kolkata."

Talking about the experience in Kolkata, Singh said that the state government
was bullish about their products and has offered to utilize the already present
manufacturing unit of West Bengal Electronics Indu-stry Development Corp Ltd (WEBEL)
and give tax and excise benefits for the products manu-factured in West Bengal.

Elaborating the marketing strategy, he said, "We want to have a
multi-pronged approach for the laptops; have intensive channels related
activities, roadshows, education prog-rams for the users and loyalty programs
for the channels and customers. We have reserved 30 to 35 percent of the
reven-ues for marketing and promo-tions." It will target the educa-tion
segment, government and local corporate for the laptops. To start with, it is
targeting at selling 500 laptops by March 2004.

He said that a key differen-tiator for his product would be its service. He
plans to have a toll free 1600 number for its products and a least possible
downtime for the laptops. On the channel front, Singh has assured a minimum of 7
per-cent margin on the laptops.

Shweta Khannna

New Delhi

(CyberMedia News Service)