These smartphone companies to stop launching online-only devices

KOLKATA: In what may shrink the market for online exclusive smartphone models and offers, three leading brands Realme, Oppo and Vivo are unlikely to launch any web-only models from January with brick-and-mortar cellphone outlets clamouring for parity when it comes to launch of similar models, discounts and promotions for both online and offline saleschannels, three senior industry executives said.
While Realme has given an official communication to the retailers in this regard, Oppo and Vivo have agreed in-principle to restrict any online-exclusive play on their smartphones, the executives said.
They have decided to stop online launches from January as they have agreements with online sellers till December. These three brands have around 30% share of the Indian smartphone market till June, as per the latest data from tracker Counterpoint Research.