Year gadgets: Slimmer, powerful gizmos lineup for 2013

The same report says India is likely to also have the second-largest Internet user base in the world with 330 million to 370 million Internet users in 2015.

This year, while mobile browsers were a default installation on the handsets, companies like Nokia focussed on offering devices with a dedicated Facebook button.

Operators also introduced special tariff plans to allow consumers surf the net and visit social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Another highlight of the year was the flooding of Indian market with low-cost tablet PCs, with the likes of Micromax, HCL and Zen launching their devices to cater to the burgeoning demand from rural parts of the country as well as increasing interest from enterprises.

Traditionally dominated by global giants like Apple and Samsung, the tablet PC price war is now being fought at the bottom of the pyramid with many lesser known companies introducing devices for segments like education and enterprises.

"We are finding it easier to sell high end phones compared to economy range phone. On an average, we have been able to sell an average of 25,000 unit of our Intel chip-based Xolo phones which are in the price range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000," Lava International's founder member and Director S N Rai said.

Even as delivery delays have marred government's ambitious 'Aakash' tablet PCs from taking off, the government is now looking at launching an advanced Aakash 2 soon aiming to provide affordable devices to the students.

Maker of Aakash, Canada's Datawind, also launched similar

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