Google taps HTC to service Pixel smartphones in India

Google is marketing the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones as its own, but the company realizes it won't be able to provide all the required customer support on its own in every region. Such is the case in India, where Google has tied up with multiple companies to ensure its smartphones are widely available and customers get proper after sales service.

Google will sell the Pixel smartphones in India through Flipkart and over 1,000 retail stores including retail chains like Reliance Digital, Croma and Vijay Sales. The pre-order for the phones will begin tomorrow. For after sales service, the company has partnered with HTC India, it told Mashable India in an emailed statement.

Google says it will offer support for Pixel smartphones at 56 HTC India walk-in service centres in more than 30 cities in India. The company will also offer a toll free phone support service at 18004190655 in India. The number will be functional all days of the week between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm (local time).

"Pixel devices come with dedicated Phone support - Toll free number: 18004190655 and support hours are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, seven days a week. We will also offer support at 56 walk-in service centres across 30+ cities in India. For after-sales support, we are partnering with HTC India," a Google spokesperson said.

Apart from brick and mortar service centres and phone support, Google is also debuting online support directly from the phone itself, where the phone will initiate a screen sharing feature with a service representative. This could come handy in troubleshooting common issues users face.

Unlike with Nexus brand of smartphones and tablets, Pixel is being marketed as "made by Google". Google is also assuming more control over how these phones are sold and supported in different regions. In the United States, for instance, it is providing after sales support for the Pixel smartphones. With Nexus smartphones, its manufacturer partner was tasked with offering repair and other services for the phones as well.

While pre-orders for the Pixel smartphones go live tomorrow, they will ship by the end of the month, coinciding with Diwali festival.