Motorola, the world?s third largest mobile handset manufacturer, has rejigged its business strategy for the Indian market. Motorola is fuelling the growth of its enterprise mobility segment by expanding its product portfolio at a time when its retail mobile devices business has fallen 36% worldwide in 2008.

Globally, Motorola?s enterprise mobility segment, comprising two-way radios, SCADA systems, mobile computers and micro kiosks, among others, contributes almost 60% of its revenues. This business grew 5% during the same period. The company has also stepped up research on enterprise products in India and China.

According to a Reuter?s poll, global handset sales fell by 18%, or 50 million phones, in the first quarter of 2009. In India too, Motorola has been losing its marketshare in the retail handset segment. ?Nokia leads the Indian handset market, followed by Samsung, Motorola and LG,? said an industry analyst. This has made it imperative for the company to focus on other growth areas.

?Although China is the largest market for this segment, India is our fastest growing one. We have sold about more than a million of enterprise mobility devices globally,? said Jayant K. Rastogi, country head & area sales director, Indian sub-continent, enterprise mobility, Motorola. In India, the company has Nestle, Coke and Blue Dart, among others, as its customers. Also, for India, retail was the company?s largest business vertical till 2007. However, due the financial crisis, the focus has now shifted to FMCG companies deploying field mobility solutions. Motorola enterprise mobility segment inaugurated its executive briefing centre in Bangalore in 2008. The companies deploying these handsets start with buying a few 100 handsets and then go on increasing the uptake as per the need.

?The B2B division can be broadly classified into the enterprise mobility department, government and public safety department and home and network safety department. Motorola?s B2B division has been functional and operating in India since seven years now,? said Rastogi.

Motorola?s enterprise mobility department has recently introduced new enterprise mobile computer FR6000 and FR68 specially designed for the Asia Pacific market.