 Microsoft tie-up with Redington for Xbox 360
Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division's powerful video game and entertainment system - the Xbox 360 - is expected to garmer a major chunk of the gaming market in India. Microsoft will leverage Redington's 9,000 strong network in India to reach out to resellers and other consumer touch points across top seven cities - Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata and
Pune.
The company has appointed Redington India as the sole distribution partner in India for XBox 360. Redington will invest in setting up a network of 15 flagship Xbox 360 stores in these seven cities. Redington will also commit a team of 35 trained personnel who will drive the after-sales service delivery and back-end service support for Xbox 360. After-sales service support and warranty on Xbox 360 will be provided by Redington through its seven service centres across the seven cities. Redington will also serve orders under Microsoft's pre-order campaign on Xbox 360 which is currently under way.
Redington is expected to invest nearly Rs 4 crore in this project. The Xbox 360 will come at prices ranging from Rs 19,990 to over Rs 23,000. Over five million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold worldwide since the launch in June 2006.
Elaborating on the partnership, Ashim Mathur, marketing manager, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division, India, said, "We share a long-standing partnership with Redington in India and they are our partners of choice for distributing Xbox 360 too. We are confident that together we will be able to reach out to the ever-expanding space of gaming enthusiasts in India and bring to them Xbox 360 which is undoubtedly the best digital entertainment platform available today."
Speaking on the partnership, J S Kulkarni, CEO, Redington India Ltd, said, "Xbox 360 is an ultimate technology product with unmatched features. With high percentage of young population and increasing income levels, Indians are looking for newer ways of entertainment. Given that India is almost a virgin market for gaming devices, we see a big opportunity for Xbox 360. We are quite excited about the product and our partnership with Microsoft for distribution and post-sales services for this product."
Redington (India) is a part of 140-year-old Transnational Business Group headquartered in Singapore with a turnover of $ 5 billion. Redington started its Indian operations in 1993 and has grown consistently over the years and recorded a revenue of over Rs 4,000 crore in India in FY 2005-06.
Microsoft revolutionised the gaming industry with the November 2001 launch of Xbox
(http://www.xbox.com). its first-generation video game and entertainment system, now sold in 26 countries. Microsoft introduced its next generation system, Xbox 360, in the 2005 holiday season in Europe, Japan and North America, and launched the system in Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan in 2006. Xbox 360
(http://www.xbox.com/xbox360) is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming service, and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around garners.
R Rangaraj
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