Of late, we've seen quite a few smartphone companies such as Motorola, Xiaomi and Asus having an exclusive tie-ups with e-commerce websites for their product launches. While the online-exclusive model is turning out to be a success in India, big names in the smartphone segment haven't tried it out yet. But, things could change soon, as Samsung is reportedly teaming up with Flipkart for an exclusive launch of its Galaxy S5 Mini in India.
The latest report comes after Flipkart posted a teaser image on its official Facebook page stating : “Expect something small from a big name in smartphones!” “Mini talks big. Coming soon.”
For Flipkart, it's not a first high-profile exclusive launch. The e-commerce giant had already a successful stint with Motorola’s Moto smartphones including Moto G, E and X. It recently tied up with Chinese company Xiaomi for an exclusive launch of the Mi 3.
Read: Gone in 2.3 seconds! Xiaomi Mi3 flash sales on Flipkart evokes colourful reactions
Samsung adopting the exclusive online tie up model affirms the drastic change happening in the smartphone segment in India. The move not only gives a massive push to the e-commerce platforms in the country, but ensures the online-exclusive-launch model is to stay, and perhaps will go bigger in the near future. Read: How exclusive online launches are boosting e-commerce in India
Moreover, the move could also be interpreted as another effort from Samsung to maintain its top position in the Indian market as the likes of Micromax and Motorola narrow the gap. The online-exclusive tie up will allow the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini to be competitively priced.