Celkon Mobiles has launched a 7-inch SIM-based tablet that works on Android Ice Cream Sandwich Operating System. The Hyderabad-based mobile handset company forayed into the tablet business last month with an e-tab.

The sim-based CELTAB comes with 1 GHz Processor, 512 RAM and a provision for 3G dongle to access the Internet. ‘We have priced this tab at Rs 7,499. We will be coming out with two more tablets, including a 9-inch one, next week,” Y. Guru, Managing Director of Celkon Mobiles, said.

The company is offering in-built courseware for engineering and management graduates. “We are planning to add additional material to address the needs of students in other streams,” he told Business Line.

Overseas expansion

Celkon’s Executive Director, R. Murali, said the company plans to expand the business abroad in the fourth quarter of this financial year. “We are in talks with channel partners in Africa. We have started selling the handsets in Singapore in a small way. We will also be looking at Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” he said.

He said the company would roll out a smartphone with dual-core processor in October, along with C-Note, both under Rs 10,000. “We are selling five lakh handsets a month. Of this, smartphones and tablets contribute 20 per cent. We expect the contribution from the latter segment to grow in the remaining two quarters as we launch new models and expand to new States,” he said.

In 2011-12, the company registered a turnover of Rs 326 crore. “With new smartphone range and tablets and expansion to new States would help us cross Rs 1,000-crore this financial year,” he said.

Celkon will launch a marketing campaign with film actress Tamanna Bhatia and cricketer Virat Kohli next month to cash in on the festival season.