The OnePlus One has been launched in India, priced at Rs. 21,999 for the 64GB version (Sandstone Black). Notably, no 16GB (Silk White) version will be made available in India. The smartphone is available via invites from Tuesday, exclusively on Amazon.in.
The OnePlus One smartphone will be available for purchase only for users with invites, and India-specific invites for the Tuesday launch have already been through distributed through OnePlus and Amazon. A 10-day return policy by Amazon was also announced, while HCL will exclusively handle after sales service.
The company says the OnePlus and Amazon platforms have been integrated so that invites claimed by a OnePlus account can be used to purchase the ‘2014 Flagship Killer’ on the Amazon OnePlus One page. Users can log onto oneplus.net/in to register their interest for a OnePlus One invite. (Read:How to Get a OnePlus One India-Specific Invite).
OnePlus said the India launch is the “next chapter” for the company, with an “entirely new team and model.” The firm says the move will herald several firsts for the company, with the local chapter the first outside the company’s headquarters to have a physical presence.
The firm added India will be the first region since the OnePlus One’s launch in April in 17 countries where a localised service infrastructure will be in place, offering both walk-in and phone support to users. OnePlus reiterated the team in the country will be led by Vikas Agarwal, General Manager of OnePlus India.
The company said the exclusive online retail partnership with Amazon also extends to the accessories of the OnePlus One, which thus far include the Flip Cover, Bamboo StyleSwap Cover, and Silver Bullet Earphones. Other accessories announced as ‘coming soon’ include the Screen Protector, Protective Case, Clear Case, and JBL E1+ Earphones.
Amit Agarwal, Vice President and Country Manager, Amazon India, added, “We are very excited to bring this much awaited phone for our customers in India. And we are having real fun with the unique marketing initiatives for the launch. It fits right into our philosophy of bringing wide and unique selections and experiences for our customers.”
Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus, said at the launch, “Our company focuses first on our users and our product. We want to provide the best possible experience for our Indian users who have been so supportive of our vision. To do that, we are investing heavily in our Indian operations and partnering with the fastest growing and most admirable e-commerce company in the market, Amazon.in.”
The OnePlus One runs Cyanogen 11S or CM 11S, with the ‘S’ signifying the customisation for the One smartphone. Notably, CM 11S is based on Android 4.4 KitKat, while the company has issued several OTA updates bringing bug fixes and new features in the interim, with the latest in November taking it to CM 11S 44S.
