Despite the large number of generic Chinese phones flooding the Indonesian market, PT Industri Telekomunikasi Indonesia (INTI), a state-owned enterprise, will be forging ahead with plans to release its own brand of Android smartphones. INTI has actually released ​a number of Android phones in the past under the IMO brand which stands for Inti Mobile (Mobile Core).

Currently IMO’s line of phones primarily consist of low-end models that look similar to other more well known brands. INTI now intends to produce  mid-range to high end Android phones running Gingerbread powered by processors made by Marvell Technology Group.

Managing Director of INTI, Mr. Irfan Setiaputra, said to VIVAnews, that the development of the smartphone is in the finalization stage. INTI also intends to work with Marvell to have it as the supplier of the 800 MHz processors which will be the core of INTI’s smartphone. Marvell Technology as we know was founded by Sutardja family. The company plans to sell the phones starting from the second half of the year.

A single core 800 MHz processor is certainly not at the of high-end of today’s processor technology. It seems to be a little out of place given the expected selling price of Rp 5 million per device, putting it on the same pricing level as phones from established high-end manufacturers from overseas.

However, I personally welcome the idea of ​​”national phone” that was initiated by INTI. If this nation can make its own cars and planes, making smartphones isn’t something impossible.

I hope that Indonesian-made Android smartphones are going to pre-load applications made by local developer to emphasize that not only can Indonesians create International quality software and hardware products, but we also value those local products.