Finnish phone maker HMD has launched its first smartphone, the Vibe 2 5G, preloaded with an AI-powered chatbot named Indus. Developed by Indian company Sarvam, this app supports 22 languages and mid-sentence code-switching to understand user queries better. Despite no offline usage, the app aims to boost HMD’s presence in India through accessible technology.

‘Our goal is to introduce the Indus app to consumers,’ said Ravi Kunwar, CEO of HMD for India and APAC. ‘We plan to focus on driving traction once the app gains popularity.’ The Vibe 2 5G, priced at ₹10,999 ($114), is a mid-range Android device with a 6,000mAh battery, and future plans include feature phones with AI integration.

‘This partnership could be significant,’ noted Kunwar. ‘HMD held just a 4% share in India’s feature phone market last year but had no smartphone presence at all.’ Sarvam, one of India’s leading AI startups, has already launched the Indus app and is focusing on enterprise partnerships for voice-based solutions, aiming to become one of the most funded AI companies in the country.

While early days for Indus, its download numbers are encouraging, with over 293,000 downloads since launch. For HMD, this strategy aims to tap into India’s large and diverse market through regional AI assistants bundled with affordable hardware.