Not so long ago, the mobile phone was merely a gadget that one used to make and receive calls, sms was a luxury that was cautiously used. Suddenly, TRAI obliged, rates fell, user’s kitty was overloaded with schemes by the service providers. Suddenly, everybody was chatting their hearts out through the night. Suddenly, people wanted more from gadgets that they can carry around anywhere and anytime. And the one feature that users want more of is entertainment.

“Today buyers are not satisfied with regular features. Even a rickshaw puller demands for a mobile handset that has the radio player. For consumers entertainment is the main deciding factor while making a gadget choice. Economic Players like Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung sell not only because of the product quality but also because they offer good entertainment value,” says Mukesh Pasricha, owner of an electronic shop in Sector 22. He adds that while youngsters go in for economic models, the high-end devices, starting from Rs 35,000, find their takers in business persons and senior officials. “No matter what their profession, users want to possess recreational options. The new phenomenon is entertainment phones that give adequate ‘ear candy.’ The uses of a mobile phone has transformed to playing high-quality music, video clips and even live television,” tells Sudhir Pandey, a techie from the city.