Micromax Informatics is an Indian multinational manufacturer of consumer electronics and home appliances, headquartered in Gurgaon.[2] It was established in March 2000 as an IT software company operating in embedded systems. It entered the mobile phone business in 2008 and, by 2010, became one of the largest companies making low-cost feature phones in India.
In 2014, Micromax was the tenth largest smartphone vendor in the world.[3] In the subsequent years, the company faced stiff competition from Chinese companies that began penetrating the Indian market.[4] The company also owns YU Televentures, which sells its products under the brand name YU.[5]
History
Micromax was incorporated as Micromax Informatics Ltd. in the year 2000 by Rahul Sharma and Rohit Patel.[6] It began selling mobile phones in 2008,[7] focusing on democratising technology for masses to compete with international players.[8]
The company also introduced handsets (budget and flagship). After Micromax's co-founder Rahul Sharma once saw a public call office being powered by a truck battery because of frequent power cuts in its locale. This prompted him to launch a feature mobile phone with a long battery life[9] called the X1i phone, Micromax's first mobile phone with a month-long battery back-up.[10]
In 2014, Micromax's sales in India exceeded those of Samsung. It became the largest mobile phone supplier in India in the second quarter.[11] On 24 January 2014, Micromax became the first Indian mobile company to sell in Russia.[12] In 2020, Micromax made a comeback in the Indian mobile industry with a new sub-brand "IN".[13]
Segments
Mobile handsets
- Feature phones
- Smartphones
Consumer electronics
Known for mobile handsets and LED TV panels, Micromax is also expanding its portfolio in the consumer electronics segment, targeting the "premium economy class" consumers.[14]
- Televisions
- Air Conditioning
- Refrigerators
- Washing Machines
Products
Funbook series
Micromax entered the tablet computer market with the debut of the Funbook series.[15]
Funbook Pro (HD display, finger print sensor) with Snapdragon processor & 1 GB RAM, runs Android One
Canvas Knight A350 and Canvas A1
Micromax launched its first eight-core flagship smartphone, Canvas Knight A350, in March 2014 for the Russian market. In the same year on September, Micromax launched the Android One smartphone, Canvas A1.
Canvas Silver 5, Canvas Win W092 and Canvas Win W121
Micromax launched Micromax Canvas Silver 5, which it claimed was the slimmest telephone in the world on 17 June 2015.[16] The company is an official
Manufacturing in India
Products manufactured
Mobile phones, LED TVs, LED Lamp and Tablets. The government would be providing land to Micromax for setting up the centre, which has a capacity to produce 10 lakh devices a month, which include mobile phones, LED TVs, LED lights and Tablets. It presently employs 700 people. The firm's first facility in Uttarakhand has a capacity to produce 16 lakh devices.[24]
Manufacturing hubs
Micromax has three factories - Bhiwadi (Rajasthan), Rudrapur (Uttarakhand) and Telangana. In Bhiwadi, the surface Mount Technology (SMT) line is already operational and trials are running in Rudrapur. For Telangana, the machinery is under import. Altogether, Micromax will have a capacity of about 30 lakh a month for mobile phones.[25]
Projects and Partnerships
In November 2014, Micromax partnered with Cyanogen Inc. to provide Cyanogen-based smartphones in India, under the brand name YU.[29][30][31]
As of 10 April 2016, Micromax announced a strategic partnership with digital payments company TranServ and major global payments technology company Visa to offer the next generation of payment solutions in India.[32]
Joint ventures
In 2024, Micromax Informatics and Phison formed a joint venture business, MiPhi, to design fabless chips with the goal of creating state-of-the-art NAND storage solutions. Micromax owns a majority interest of 55% in the business, while Phison owns the remaining 45%.[33] On February 17, 2025, the MiPhi introduced the Storm 1100X external SSD, its first consumer product, for professionals, gamers, and creators in India.[34]
Endorsements
Actors Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna were the first celebrities to endorse Micromax Mobiles.[35] Hugh Jackman was the brand ambassador of Micromax and appeared in a commercial in 2013 for its first flagship smartphone, the Canvas Turbo A250,[36] and for the Canvas 4 and Canvas Sliver 5 thereafter. In July 2013, actress Chitrangada Singh posed for the Canvas 4 smartphone in New Delhi.[37] Vighnesh Pande endorsed Micromax Canvas Unite 4 line of smartphones in 2017.
Key awards and achievements
In 2011, Micromax was recognized as an Emerging Company of the Year by V&D 100 Awards.[38]
In 2017, Rahul Sharma was conferred the Transformational Business Leader of the Year.[39]
Controversies
Patent litigation
In March 2013, Ericsson sued Micromax for infringement of Ericsson's eight patents registered in India that were essential to the 2G and 3G standards. The Delhi High Court ordered Micromax to pay royalty amounts to Ericsson based on the percentages of the net selling prices of the devices incorporating 2G and 3G standards. Around the time that Ericsson filed its patent infringement suit, Micromax filed a concurrent complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), alleging that Ericsson had abused its allegedly dominant position by imposing exorbitant royalties for the use of its SEPs, thus violating The Competition Act of 2002.[40] As of February 2016, the CCI had yet to issue a final determinative ruling on the basis of Micromax's allegations.
In late 2014, Delhi High Court ruled that sales of the OnePlus One smartphone are blocked in India because Cyanogen OS signed an exclusive deal to sell Micromax mobile telephones only in India, although OnePlus One had a worldwide licensing deal. This move was seen as a monopoly to stem the sales of OnePlus One and other smartphone brands.[41]
See also
- YU Televentures
- Electronics and semiconductor manufacturing industry in India
External links
References
- संग्रहीत प्रति retrieved 4 February 2011^
- Micromax becomes number one mobile phone company in India Patrika Group, retrieved 5 August 2014^
- PTI. Micromax world's 10th largest mobile phone brand in Q1: Gartner