Friends, this is quite an interesting development! Given the close fit between semiconductors and electronic components, it is always a delight to find distributors of electronic components making a beeline for India. It tells us here that all is well with the Indian technology industry and that the interest of overseas companies is well much alive. Therefore, when my good friend, Ranga Prasad, business development manager, AqTronics Technologies Pvt. Ltd., recently called to share this news with me, I was quite thrilled! For those who are not aware, AqTronics is an innovator in the distribution and marketing of semiconductors, passives, interconnects, electromechanical, IT and enterprise products. It is a focused demand creation distributor for India markets. According to Ranga, the company desires to be a part of the technology supply chain for customers in India. All of Mouser's electronic components will be made available through AqTronics through INR (Indian Rupees) and USD (US dollars) with Modvat refund. On receiving this news, I immediately, started investigating the Mouser Web site to see the product line up that it would be bringing for optoelectronics! That subject again, isn't it? Under the optoelectronics section alone, Mouser has a whole lot of products to offer. No less than 195 backlighting components, 7145 displays, 1440 drivers, 2587 fiber optic communication products, 16 fiber optic lighting products, 1432 incandescent lamps and holders, 1284 IR data communications products, 227 laser products, 23,177 LEDs, 2599 optical detectors and sensors, 12,343 photocouplers, 1058 photointerruptors, 110 photomicrosensors, and 3071 solid-state relays! That's quite an exhaustive list! So, two things here – AqTronics distributing Mouser's products in India, and two, a huge range of products at that! Two questions immediately come to the mind! One, will there be a warehouse of some kind in India to host such a vast range of products? And two, Farnell already has a significant presence in India. The entry of Mouser, via AqTronics, should heat up the competition immensely. How will they handle this competition? Well, the first part has an easy answer. A warehouse would definitely be in the pipeline! Putting appropriate resource to support customers is Mouser's belief. Therefore, it will not neglect the needs of adding a warehouse wherever and whenever required. Since customer support is one of Mouser's strength, the company is serious in its approach toward India, and will provide its best services for after sales support. I don't have a proper answer to the second one, but am sure, both AqTronics and Mouser are carefully planning their steps into India. Aug. 14, 2009Pradeep