Indian mobile network operator Idea Cellular on Tuesday unveiled two third-generation Dual SIM smartphones, aimed at updating existing 2G users to 3G, but affordably.  

While the entry-level 'Idea ID 920' smartphone is priced ₹4, 950, the higher-end 'Idea Aurus III' with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device costs ₹6,990. At these prices, the smartphones are comparably much cheaper than most 3G smartphones in the market.

Speaking at the launch, Sashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular said, "Keeping in mind the requirements of the fast evolving Indian consumer in the light of the ongoing mobile broadband revolution, the new 3G smartphones from Idea are priced affordably to upgrade existing 2G users to 3G. Device plays an important role in establishing data experience for the user, but currently 3G smartphones are priced relatively high in the Indian market. Idea is bridging this gap by bringing low-cost devices with high-end features to proliferate 3G among all segments of users."

The Idea ID 920 smartphone is mainly aimed at the sub-urban markets. The device sports a 3.5-inch TFT screen and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS driven by a 1GHz processor with 512 MB RAM. It has a 2-megapixel camera, 1400 mAh battery, 2GB memory card and 512MB expandable up to 32GB via microSD support.

The smartphone is only available in a single colour model - dark blue. Another major drawback besides the lack of a secondary camera is that the company is not going to give any software updates for the device in future.

On the other hand, the Idea Aurus III smartphone comes in white and black variants. It specifications include a 4-inch screen, 1GHz processor coupled with 512 MB RAM, Android Jelly Bean v 4.1Jelly Bean OS, 5-megapixel rear camera, VGA front facing camera, 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via SD-card and 1400 mAh battery.

Like ID 920, Aurus III will also be devoid of any future software updates from Idea. Both devices have dual-SIM capability.

Idea Cellular launched 3G services two years ago, and the company claims to have sold over more than three lakh 3G supporting smartphones since then.

Idea is delivering promotional offers with the two newly-launched smartphones as well. In the ₹261 pack, ID 920 users can avail 3G data pack of 1GB, while Aurus III users can get 1.6GB of 3G data. This pack includes three months of free Idea TV subscription and will come with the smartphones.

There's also a 2G data pack for customers living in areas where 3G service is not available.