Idea Launches Magna, Magna L; Unveils Data Offer for Its 3G Smartphones

The telecom operator has also announced a bundled offer for all new Idea 3G smartphones buyers, who can avail 16GB 3G data (worth Rs. 3,200) with a Rs. 261 recharge - translating to 4GB of 3G data every month for the first four months. Additionally, the company is also offering a free subscription of Idea TV for 4 months. Idea also stressed that the new 3G budget smartphones are "targeted at young students, professionals and first time smartphone users."

Both the Idea Magna and Idea Magna L smartphones run Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box and support 3G connectivity - the highlight features of the new smartphones.

The company notes that the new Idea 3G smartphones will be available across all Idea 3G markets including Uttar Pradesh (East), Uttar Pradesh (West), Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Punjab, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.

The Idea Magna features a 4-inch display and is powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz. It sports q 5-megapixel rear camera, while there is a VGA front camera also onboard.

The Idea Magna L, on the other hand, features a 4.5-inch display. It is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and sports a 5-megapixel rear camera alongside a VGA front camera.

The handset also comes with sensors such as G sensor, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor. The company is also offering a free flip cover with the Magna L.

Unfortunately, Idea has not revealed all the specifications of the new 3G smartphones.

Commenting on the launch, Sashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular said, "3G adoption is greatly dependent on pricing of 3G smartphones and data plans. By bundling 16GB 3G data with our entire range of smartphones, we have brought down the total cost of owning a smartphone, and 3G connection, by over 50 percent. With the new range of Magna and Magna L, 2G users can conveniently upgrade to 3G by paying as low as Rs. 4,999 and acquiring a stylish 3G smartphone with 16 GB data."

In August, the company claimed that it sold 800,000 branded smartphones over the past 30 months and had added that over three-fourths of those users were still with the brand.