Just Tech 2.0.

The concept of branding and retailing has caught every faction of the Indian consumer market. After Bangalore based Mobile NXT, Pantaloon quietly ventured setting up ConvergeM mobile retail chain under the brand name M Bazaar, M Port and Gen M. It is now Essar groups turn to enter cell retailing. Essar also holds 35% stake in Hutch.

Esaar Telecom has done due dilligence in association with KSA technopark and is willing to invest upto Rs3000 crores in 3 years. The company is planning to setup 1,000-2,000 sq ft stores, which will be one-stop shops for customers’ mobile needs. They will offer telecom handsets, connections, recharge vouchers, mobile accessories, after sales services, facilities for bill payment, gaming, mobile entertainment options, repairs and refurbishment.

All these stores means an end to your local mobile retailer. After adding currency to my mobile, if I want the latest Halo-2 game do I need to look for the game retailer ? Doesn’t make sense. Companies such as Essar with deep pockets should have plans to scale up their operation to the size of BestBuy or CircuitCity which is so essential for the Indian consumer.