Now you can replace your CFL bulb with a better, and relatively cheaper LED bulb! Well, at least in some Indian cities for now! What's more, the maker claims that the LED bulb will last for as long as 15 years! Philips Lighting India recently made breakthrough innovation in lighting technology – by unveiling the Philips LED consumer bulb range for the Indian market – developed indigenously. The new LED bulb will be available at a very competitive price in India or anywhere else globally – for Rs. 649 (or US$14.70). Murali Sivaraman, vice chairman and MD, Philips Electronics India Ltd., said: “This is a milestone launch not just for Philips but also for India, as the new range gives India its first home-grown LED bulb and takes the country a step further in LED revolution. This new LED bulb will enable millions of Indian households to switch to the future of lighting and save on electricity bills and replacement costs, all with the highest quality standards.” Philips invested considerably in producing the most appropriate, tailor-made lighting solution for Indian homes. Developed at the Philips R&D center in Noida, near New Delhi, the Indian capital, the bulb adheres to India-specific environmental and infrastructural challenges such as voltage fluctuations, energy spikes and intermittent power supply. The new bulb is a retrofit bulb as it conveniently replaces the GLS bulb. It can also be installed on the existing lighting fixtures in India. Nirupam Sahay, senior director of marketing at Philips Lighting India, advised that the LED bulbs are completely digital in nature. These are based on low-voltage technology and offer up to 80 percent energy savings compared to the traditional incandescent bulbs. The new bulb emits better quality and more versatile lighting and has an extra long life of more than 15 years. Among Philips' portfolio, there is the 5-W retrofit bulb along with the 2-W candle and 7-W spotlight bulbs for lighting applications inside homes. The 5-W retrofit LED bulb is priced at Rs. 649, as mentioned earlier. The LED bulb is being launched in major metros such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata, and should be available in top electrical outlets in each city, as well as through Philips Light Lounges and key modern retail outlets in these cities. Pradeep